46         Recent  Literature  Relating  to  Pharmacy.  {^j£lly*ml^ 
scure,  but  is  probably  tropical  Africa.  For  many  years  pasta  strenu- 
ous effort  has  been  made  in  North  America  to  utilize  the  sugar 
sorghum  as  a  source  of  sugar  in  a  zone  north  of  that  in  which  the 
sugar-cane  is  grown.  The  result  has  not,  however,  been  very  suc- 
cessful, as  the  sugar  can  only  be  obtained  for  the  most  part  in  an 
uncrystallizable  form.  Syrup  is,  however,  a  large  article  of  consump- 
tion in  the  United  States,  and  this  alone  affords  the  industry  a 
chance  of  success. — Kew  Bulletin,  April,  1 897. 
ON  A  NEW  CLASS  OF  OXIDIZING  SUBSTANCES  THE  PERCARBONATES. 
The  discovery  of  this  series  of  compounds  was  recently  announced 
by  MM.  Constan  and  A.  von  Haussen.  These  authors  report  that 
on  electrolyzing  a  saturated  solution  of  potassium  carbonate,  and 
gradually  lowering  the  temperature,  the  disengagement  of  oxygen 
at  the  anode  ceases  altogether  at — io°  C.  And  that  instead  of  the 
crystalline  bicarbonate  being  formed,  as  is  the  case  when  an  alkaline 
carbonate  is  subjected  to  electrolytic  action  under  ordinary  condi- 
tions, the  result  is  a  bluish  amorphous  powder,  having  the  formula 
K2C206.  This  is  percarbonate  of  potassium,  but  it  is  not  formed  in 
dilute  solutions.  Owing  to  its  hygrometric  character,  the  powder 
should  be  quickly  thrown  on  a  filter,  and  dried  over  phosphoric 
anhydride.  It  is  decomposed  by  gentle  heating,  into  the  normal 
carbonate,  carbon  dioxide  and  oxygen.  In  the  presence  of  oxidiz- 
able  substances  it  acts  as  an  oxidizing  agent ;  but  it  may  act  as  a 
reducing  agent.  From  these  properties  the  authors  conclude  that 
this  compound  is  a  neutral  carbonate  of  peroxide  of  potassium. 
Like  the  higher  alkaline  oxides  and  the  alkaline  earths,  it  produces 
hydrogen  peroxide  in  the  presence  of  acids. — Zeitschrift  fur  Electro- 
chemie,  through  Chemical  News ,  October  1,  1897. 
FRUIT  INDUSTRIES  IN  JAMAICA. 
Kew  Bulletin  for  July,  1897,  contains  some  interesting  statements 
in  regard  to  the  exports  of  Jamaica.  The  total  value  of  these  for 
1895-96  was  ^"1,873,105,  and  nearly  two-thirds  of  this  amount  was 
for  exports  to  the  United  States.  The  trade  between  Jamaica  and 
the  United  States  is  chiefly  in  fruits  and  other  fresh  tropical  pro- 
duce, and  these  are  conveyed  by  a  fleet  of  steamers  specially  fitted 
for  the  purpose.  The  principal  fruit  cultivated  is  the  banana,  and  of 
this  4,220,796  bunches,  having  a  value  of  ,£316,560,  were  exported 
