214 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XIX, No. 4, 



The nitrogen supply for plants attempting to gain a hold upon 

 this otherwise fertile soil was made the subject of special study. 

 Not only were observations made upon the water soluble 

 ammonia and nitrite content of the ash, but determinations of 

 the total nitrogen content of the volcanic detritus were made 

 in the laboratory upon all representative samples. Determina- 

 tions were also carried out upon the pre-eruptive soil so far as the 

 tundra may be considered as representing it, and in addition 

 a series of observations was made upon the nitrogen content 

 of the rainfall and upon the water derived from melting snow. 



Photo gragh by D. B. Church 

 A CHEMICAL LABORATORY IN THE KATMAI REGION. 



Only a chemist can understand the difficulties of making quanitative analyses 

 where one must carry his laboratory on his back. 



Ammonia nitrogen was determined by color comparison 

 with a standard ammonium chloride solution, using Nessler's 

 reagent in 50 cubic centimeter Nessler tubes about 25 centi- 

 meters high. Nitrous nitrogen was determined by comparison 

 with a standard solution of sodium nitrite, using Griess's 

 reagent in the above mentioned Nessler tubes. These reagents 

 were prepared according to the directions outlined in the 



