480 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXII. No. 823 



between the soils under comparison, thus indi- 

 cating a very marked seasonal influence toward 

 the formation of high protein grain, and at the 

 same time that the influence of the soil was prac- 

 tically nil. 



In the ease of the grain produced from the 

 high-protein original from Kansas showing 20.06 

 per cent, total protein, there was a decrease on 

 each of the soil plats by about 2 per cent., but 

 as between the soils there was a difl'erence of but 

 0.27 per cent. In each ease the slight difference 

 was in favor of the California soil, but the dif- 

 ference was altogether too small to be attributed 

 with any certainty to inherent difference in soil 

 composition. 



In 1908-9 a similar condition was again shown 

 on these plats, leading to like conclusions. 



The alcohol-soluble nitrogen also points in this 

 direction, for the difference in this component of 

 the grain from the two plats is only 0.06 per 

 cent., this being in favor of the California soil. 

 In the matter of salt-soluble nitrogen we find such 

 small differences as do occur are in favor of the 

 Kansas soil. 



Thus we have a soil which in Kansas has for 

 many years produced a very high protein grain, 

 when brought to California and placed under the 

 same conditions as the home soil, producing grain 

 of the same protein content as the native soil. 



These experiments are being carried further to 

 endeavor to ascertain which of several climatic 

 factors may have the predominating influence. 



The following papers were also presented: 

 The Relation of Carhon Dioxide Excretion to 



Body Weight: G. O. Higlet. 

 The Carhon Dioxide Excretion as Modified ty 



Barometric Changes: G. 0. Higlet. 

 The Physiological Action of Thallium Salts as 



shown iy the Nitrogenous Metabolism: K. E. 



Swain. 

 The Utilization of Starch Introduced Directly 



into the Circulation: R. E. Swain. 

 The Destruction of Invertase Solutions in the 



Absence of a Preservative: F. C. Cook. 

 The Destruction of Invertase Solutions by 



Shaking and by the Electric Current: P. C. 



Cook. 

 R6sum4 of the Work of the California State Food 



and Drug Laboratory: M. E. Jatfa. 

 Testing for Saccharin: Louis H. Jackson. 

 Gitral in Lemon Oils and Extracts: R. S. Hilt- 

 nee. 

 The Composition of Pice as Affected by Fertiliza- 

 tion: W. P. Kellkt. 



division of industkial chemists and chemical 

 engineebs 



A special feature of the program of this divi- 

 sion was the symposium on smelter smoke, which 

 was full of interest. Three important papers had 

 been prepared for this occasion: 

 The Smoke Problem and the Community: Chas. 



Baskerville. 

 The Neutralization and Filtration of Smelter 



Smoke: W. C. Ebaugh. 

 The Electrical Precipitation of Suspended Matter: 



F. G. COTTBELL. 

 The Smoke Problem and the Community: 



Charles Baskerville. 



In this paper, which opened the symposium on 

 " Smelter Fumes," the smoke problem is discussed 

 historically, and from sociological, legal and eco- 

 nomic view points. The methods which have been 

 suggested for smoke abatement and the use of 

 waste- reclaiming devices; the occurrence of sul- 

 phur dioxide in city air; the effects of sulphur 

 dioxide and other waste gases; and the work of 

 the expert in eases arising from the emission of 

 noxious gases, are considered in their various 

 phases; but the larger portion of the paper deals 

 with the legal status of the smoke problem, and 

 various recommendations with respect to legisla- 

 tion, jurisdiction and administration are made. 

 From a; study of the foreign legislation relating 

 to noxious emissions, and the practicability of 

 remedies in general, it is concluded that " the 

 main solution of the ' fume question ' and ' air 

 pollution ' would seem to be in the enforced use 

 of waste-reclaiming devices, by the enactment of 

 a federal law regulating the amounts of waste 

 gases to be permitted to pass into the aih" 

 Tlie Effect of Varying Amounts of Litharge in 



the Fire Assay for Silver: Kenneth Williams. 



In seeking to account for variable results ob- 

 tained in the crucible assay for silver on oxidized 

 lead ores, containing only traces of such impuri- 

 ties as copper, zinc and arsenic, a series of assays 

 were run, using fluxes containing varying amounts 

 of litharge in excess of the amount necessary to 

 furnish a lead button of convenient size for cupel- 

 lation. 



It was found that with increased amounts of 

 excess litharge, lower silver values were obtained. 



The amount of variation was from one to four 

 tenths of an ounce per ton on ores carrying from 

 twenty-five to fifty ounces of silver. 

 Problems in Chemical Industry: John T. Baker, 



Phillipshurg, N. J. 



In this paper the author pointed out that the 



