NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



309 



It was found that a solution of pure nicotine was as efficient as 

 tobacco extract and more cleanly in use, while it is free from the other 

 constituents of tobacco which are nauseous and injurious. Nicotine 

 sulphate possesses no advantage over the uncombined product. 



A one per cent, solution killed 85 to 90 per cent, of the insects 

 plunged into it for one minute, while a two per cent, solution killed 

 98 to 100 per cent. — F. J. C. 



Tomato Blight. By H. S. Reed (Phytopathology, ii. pp. 250-252 ; 

 Dec. 1912). — Two or three generations of plants were grown from 

 seeds taken from ruits of tomato attacked by Phytophthora infestans. 

 Mycelium was found in the seeds in some cases ; but Phytopthora did 

 not appear to be carried over to succeeding generations by the seed. 

 Plants from such seed, especially when it was derived from ripe diseased 

 fruits, proved weakly and somewhat chlorotic, while the fruit they 

 produced was small and bitter. — F. J. C. 



Tomato, Cultivation of, in the Province of Parma (Jour. Soc. 

 Nat. Hort. Ft., ser. iv., xiii., p. 309 ; June 1912). — The cultivation 

 of the tomato has become a very important industry in the province 

 of Parma of late years. It is computed that about a million and a 

 half of quintals of tomatos was produced in the province last season 

 at an average price of about 6 francs per quintal. The cultivation of 

 the plants employs whole families, including old men and children, 

 not of the regular peasant class, but who devote themselves to this 

 special branch of horticulture during part of the year. The landlord 

 lets out plots of land ready prepared to such families, who plant, grow, 

 and gather the fruit, which is sold before it is ripe to big tomato 

 preservers. These last buy the produce of so many hectares at a 

 fixed price per quintal, the crop to be delivered in consignments as it 

 is ready for marketing. The results of the sale are divided between 

 the owner of the land and the cultivator. It has been found that 

 the skin and seeds from which the flesh has been removed for pre- 

 serving can be dried and made to produce an oil of varying degrees 

 of value according to the method of its extraction, and even when 

 that has been removed what is left is made up into cake for feeding 

 cattle. — M. L. H. 



Tomatos, Changes taking place during the spoilage of, with 

 methods for detecting spoilage in Tomato Products. By H. W. Wiley 

 (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. Chetn., Circ. 78). — It is easy to detect spoilage 

 in tomato pulp or canned tomatos, as such products when perfectly 

 sound contain a considerable percentage of citric acid and invert 

 sugar, but no volatile acids. The reverse is the case with spoiled 

 samples. It has been found possible to determine the condition of 

 the tomatos before canning, etc., even in the case of tomato ketchups 

 and sauces, by determining the nature of the acids contained. 



A considerable number of chemical tests for the various acids are 

 given.— £>. M. C. 



