CHEMISTRY. 425 



02lU2^O^+^U■^O. Ou boiliug with diliilo .sul]>biiiic acid it decom- 

 poses into pbloretiu aud isodulcite, and is tbeiefoie closely allied to 

 pbloriziu. (J. Cbem. Soc, Traus. 188G, 857.) 



According to Dr. F. W. Dafert, starcb obtained from Panicum candi 

 dum yields with iodine a reddish brown color instead of the usual blue 

 coloration. (Biedermann's Ceutralblatt, 188G.) 



The formation of ferrates can be conveniently exhibited in a lecture 

 by a method described by C. L. Bloxam. Place a fragment of potas- 

 sium hydroxide in a solution of ferric chloride, add a few drops of bro- 

 mine, and beat gently. The resulting dark brown mass dissolves in 

 water, yielding a fine red solution, which may be kept many hours 

 without decomposition. By boiling ferric chloride with bleaching pow- 

 der a similar red solution of calcium ferrate can be obtained. (Chem. 

 News, Liv, 43.) 



A new alloy of aluminium and tin (lOOAl : lOSn), having a specific 

 gravity' of 2.85, is recommended by M. Bourbowze for all instruments 

 requiring lightness. It can be soldered as easily' as brass, and resists 

 reagents almost as well as aluminium itself. (Comptes Rendus, cii, 

 June 7, 1886.) 



The third annual convention of the Association of Official Agricul- 

 tural Chemists was held August 26 and 27, in Washington, D. C, under 

 the presidency of Dr. Harvey W. Wiley. The members adopted official 

 methods for determining phosphoric acid and moisture and for potash, 

 but agreed not to select any single method for the determination of 

 nitrogen as official. Details of the methods adopted aud other papers 

 of value will be found in the proceedings, published as Bulletin 12 of 

 the Division of Chemistry, Department of Agriculture. 



The Bericbteof the German Chemical Society in Berlin grows apace ; 

 the volumes for 1885 contain 3,516 pages of contributions and 1,033 

 pages of abstracts, making a total of 4,549 pages. The society has 

 ordered for 1886 an edition of 3,600 copies. 



The Tokyo Chemical Society (of Japan), organized in 1878 by the 

 graduates of the Tokyo University, has eighty-six members. The offi- 

 cers for 1886 are as follows: President, J. Sakurai; vice-presidents, T. 

 Isono, M. Kuhara, N. Matsui, J. Takayama, G. Nakasawa ; secretary, 

 T. Uyeda; treasurers, T. Isido and T. Takamatsu. The members are 

 exclusive y Japanese (no foreigners). They meet twice a month and 

 publish a journal m Japanese entitled Tokyo Kagakkai Kaishi, edited 

 by J. Sakurai. The eighth annual meeting was held April 10, 1886, at 

 the botanical garden of the Imperial University, Tokyo, and several 

 interesting addresses and papers were read. 



The Chemical Society of London now numbers fourteen hundred and 

 fifty-nine fellows, tliirty-one of these being honorary foreign members. 

 During the year 1885-'86 one hundred and four papers were read to the 

 society, a larger number than for several years past. The income for 

 the year named amounted to £3,743. A subject catalogue of the library 



