Juty 12, 1918] 
The temperature at which soil samples are 
dried should be more carefully controlled and 
if the term “moisture ratio” were adopted 
we should have a more uniform basis of re- 
porting results as well as of various analyses 
made by different investigators. 
ALFRED SMITH 
Drviston or Soin TECHNOLOGY, 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
THE IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. II 
Chemistry and Agricultural Chemistry 
Ames and Iowa Sections American Chemical So- 
ciety 
Iowa chemists and the war. A discussion: LEAD- 
ERS: E. W. Rockwoop, Iowa SECTION, AND W. F. 
Coover, AMES SECTION. 
A consideration of some soil acidity methods: R. 
E. STEPHENSON. 
Color effect of the furane nucleus: NELLIE M. 
Naytor AND RareMeEr R. RENSHAW. 
The determination of surface tension by the drop 
weight method: W. D. Harkins AND F. E. Brown. 
The laboratory preparation of nickel carbonyl: 
J. S. Covz anp R. R. RENsHAw. 
Studies of the gastric residuum III. The inor- 
ganic constituents of a composite sample of gastric 
residuum obtained from 70 apparently normal men, 
and their comparison with the inorganic constitu- 
ents of a composite saliva sample obtained from 
the same individuals; CuEesTeR C. FOWLER AND 
JoHN H. BucHanan. 
Studies of the gastric residuum IV. Amino acid 
nitrogen: RutH B. CrEsSNA AND CHESTER C. 
FOWLER. 
A study of over 70 twenty-four hour urine samp- 
les obtained from apparently normal women: 
ZELMA ZENTMIRE AND CHESTER C. FOWLER. 
The relation of the composition of iron and mild 
steel to corrosion: J. 8. Cove. 
Methods for the determination of total nitrogen 
in soils containing rather’ large amounts of ni- 
trates: R. 8. SNyDER. é 
The number and action of molds in the soil: P. 
E. Brown AnD W. V. HALVERSEN. 
The production of acid phosphate by composting 
sulfur and rock phosphate: P. E. Brown AND B, 
J. FIRKINS. 
SCIENCE 
49 
The growth of legumes and the nitrogen prob- 
lem; P. E, Brown anv J. H. STALLINGS. 
The nature of soil acidity: R. S. Porrer AnD R. 
E. STEPHENSON. 
The organic phosphorus of soil: R. 8. Porrer 
AND R. S. SNYDER. 
A study of certain green manure crops in ma- 
king rock phosphate available in soils: Ross L. 
BANcROFT AND B. J. Finks. 
A study of the comparative availability of dif- 
ferent forms of phosphorus in nutrient solutions: 
Ross L. Bancrortv. 
The oils in cherry pits: NICHOLAS KNIGHT. An 
unquestioned source of oil in Germany in connec- 
tion with the present war is cherry pits. The fruit 
is produced there in great profusion. We ex- 
tracted the oils from 50 grams of the kernels of 
dried cherry pits and obtained 37.6 per cent. 
There were two varieties of oil. One, of which 
there was about 90 per cent., resembled almond 
oil, and the remainder seemed closely related to 
peanut oil. 
Some problems of water supply for troops: 
Jack J. HinmAN, Jz. A brief survey of methods 
which have been adopted at various times in the 
past for purifying water to be supplied to troops 
in the field. 
The subject of chemical germicides is made the 
most important topic and particular attention is 
given to the use of chlorine and allied compounds. 
An extensive bibliography is appended. 
The composition and digestibility of sudan grass 
hay: W. G. GAESSLER AND A, C. McCaNnpLiIsH. 
The occurrence and possible toxicity of molds in 
corn silage: ALVIN R. Lamp. The examination of 
a number of samples of corn silage, which con- 
tained mold which had grown in the interior of 
the silo, out of contact with air, showed the pres- 
ence of two species, a red mold, Monascus pur- 
pureus Went, and a green mold, Peniciliwm roque- 
forti Thom. Aqueous extracts of the mycelium of 
these molds had no toxie effect on rabbits when in- 
jected intravenously. Large amounts of mold 
were given rabbits per os with no noticeable effect. 
(a) Deterioration of concrete silos due to the 
corrosive influence of silage acids. (b) Some ob- 
servations on Kendall’s method for the determina- 
tion of iodine in thyroid preparations: S. B. 
KUuzIgIAN. 
Some improved laboratory methods: W. 8S. HEN- 
DRIXSON. 
