December 29, 1916] 



SCIENCE 



923 



Organic Agricultural Chemistry (The Chem- 

 istry of Plants and Animals). A text-book 

 of general agricultural chemistry or ele- 

 mentary bio-chemistry for use in colleges. 

 By Joseph Soudder Chamberlain, Ph.D., 

 Professor of Organic and Agricultural 

 Chemistry in the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 College. New York, The Macmillan Com- 

 pany, 1916. 319 pages. 



In following out certain modern ideas that 

 science can be applied from the beginning and 

 not lose any of its scientific value, this text 

 comes as a distinct change from the usual 

 books on the subject of organic and agricul- 

 tural chemistry. It starts in with a brief de- 

 scription of systematic organic chemistry, but 

 keeps in mind all the time that the compounds 

 described have an agricultural value. Then 

 follows a section on physiological chemistry 

 dealing first with animals and then with 

 plants. Finally there is a section on crops, 

 foods and feeding which presents "the chem- 

 ical basis for the valuation of animal foods 

 but without entering into the discussion of the 

 practical operation and results of animal 

 feeding." 



The following are the chapter headings: 

 Section I. - Systematic. Chapter I. Hydro- 

 carbons; EC. Substitution Products of the 

 Hydrocarbons; III. Oxidation Products of 

 Alcohols; IV. Derivatives of Alcohols and 

 Acids; V. Mixed Compounds; VI. Amino- 

 Acids, Proteins, Urea, Uric Acid; VTI. Carbo- 

 hydrates. Section II. Physiological. Chapter 

 VIII. Enzymes and Enzymatic Action; IX. 

 Composition of Plants and Animals; X. The 

 Living Cell and Its Food; XL Animal Food 

 and Nutrition; Digestion and Absorption; 

 XII. Animal Food and Nutrition ; Metabolism ; 

 Xni. Milk, Blood and Urine; XIV. Plant 

 Physiology. Section III. Crops, Foods and 

 Feeding. Chapter XV. Occurrence and 

 Uses of Important Constituents in Agricul- 

 tural Plants; XVI. Occurrence and Uses of 

 Important Constituents in Agricultural Plants 

 (Continued) ; XVII. Animal Foods and 

 Feeding. 



One criticism to be made is of the statement 

 occurring now and then that certain processes 



can not be explained here, or that it is unnec- 

 essary to give the proof for some reaction. In 

 an elementary text it is not wise to make such 

 statements. It is far better to give as many 

 of the facts as are desirable or necessary for 

 the case in point and make no apologies. An- 

 other fault to be found is that there are no 

 illustrations. All texts should be generously 

 illustrated with good pictures if the average 

 student is to make the best use of the book. 



The idea of using only those compounds 

 occurring in a study of agricultural chemis- 

 try is well worked out, and the student is car- 

 ried rapidly from simple to complex forms 

 without any loss of time and without any loss 

 of the unity or coordination of systematic 

 organic chemistry. This section shows very 

 well how such a subject can be practically ap- 

 plied without losing any of the pure science. 

 In the section on physiological chemistry the 

 action of enzymes and the chemistry of the 

 cell are made very plain. Crops are dis- 

 cussed briefly but efficiently, and the question 

 of nutrition treated with just enough detail to 

 acquaint the student with the underlying prin- 

 ciples. 



The book is well printed and neatly bound. 

 It is a volume to be recommended to those who 

 desire a condensed treatment of biochemistry, 

 being thoroughly scientific and yet practical 

 and interesting. 



c. w. s todd art 



State College, Pa. 



THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL 

 SURVEY MAPS 



The thirty-seventh annual report of the U. 

 S. Geological Survey states that the project of 

 covering the 3,000,000 square miles of the 

 United States with accurate topographic sur- 

 veys was definitely adopted by the federal gov- 

 ernment in 1882, and the work is even now less 

 than half completed. The standards of accu- 

 racy and refinement in topographic surveying 

 have been constantly raised by the topographic 

 engineers, with the view of meeting adequately 

 every use to which the resulting maps can be 

 put. The law provides for the sale of the 

 United States Geological Survey maps at the 



