TOBACCO 277 



(4) Chemical Department. 



The chemical section has just started a new method of 

 soil examination, in order to obtain a better insight auto 

 the differences between the various kinds of soil and 

 between healthy and diseased lands. 



Previously to this a study of tobacco fermentation had 

 been made by Dr. Tymstra. The results of this inquiry, 

 including a study of various enzymes (oxydase, peroxy- 

 dase, alpha- and beta-katalase), antioxydine, the destruc- 

 tive action of acids on peroxydase and the zymogen of 

 the tobacco peroxydase, have been published in the organ 

 of the Deli Testing Station. 



Researches have likewise been conducted by Dr. 

 Tymstra regarding the combustibility of tobacco, and a 

 new method for determining this has been discovered. 



Samples of soils obtained from the whole of the 

 tobacco region have in course of time been physically 

 and chemically examined; the percentages of nitrogen, 

 phosphoric acid, potash, lime, chlorine, and fine earth 

 were determined, as well as the absorption coefficient, 

 the water capacity, volume, and specific gravity. The 

 data obtained have been embodied in a study by Dr. 

 Vriens and Dr. Tymstra, whilst the analyses have been 

 conducted by the chemical assistant, Dr. Remmert. 



Researches have also been made on the subject of the 

 preparation of tobacco ash, which is valuable as potash 

 manure, and is now being fairly generally prepared by 

 planters from the tobacco stalks. 



Attention must finally be drawn to the important part 

 taken by the Deli Testing Station in the making of com- 

 mercial analyses, the exercise of control over artificial 

 manures, which are imported to the value of several 

 hundred thousand guilders annually, the control of 

 tobacco ash, of insecticides and fungicides, feeding 

 stuffs, water samples, the testing of fermentation ther- 

 mometers, the examination of suspected plant material, 

 etc., etc. 



