EDITORIAL. 
BORAX AS A PLANT POISON.. 
The cessation of potash imports during the war gave a great impetus 
to search for local sources of supply in various countries. Among the 
sources used on a somewhat large scale was that of Searles Lake, Cali- 
fornia, from which many tons were taken. In 1917, injurious effects 
were produced by some fertilizers, and it was found that borax was the 
cause of this. Investigations were undertaken at the Indiana Agricultural 
Experiment Station, and tliey showed that very small amounts of borax 
could produce poisonous effects on maize. In 1919, the United States 
of America Department of Agriculture began experiments with Searles 
Lake potash, which was found to contain 6.25 per cent., or Na,B,O,, 
and investigations were carried out with potatoes and cotton. Whilst 
these experiments were in progress, many complaints were received 
from different districts, stating that great injury was being done by 
potash fertilizers. Investigations showed that-in all cases borax was 
present. The greatest damage was done to germination. The quantity 
of borax sufficient to produce decided toxic effects is small compared 
with well-known poisons such as copper and arsenic. 
SUBSTITUTE FOR TARTARIC ACID. 
In these days of high prices for commodities which were at oue 
time so cheap and plentiful, “substitutes” are being freely advocated 
and used, some with great success, states The Chemical Age. As an 
example may be mentioned tartaric acid, citric acid, and cream of tartar. 
These three articles are always in great demand for demestie and 
technical uses, and it is difficult to find an efficient substitute. However, 
a special preparation, technically called acid sodium phosphate, is now 
filling the gap caused by the dearness and short. supplies’ of this 
important group of acid bodies. For many purposes where acidity only is 
required, acid sodium phosphate can effectively take the place of these 
acid bodies. Acid sodium phosphate is a pure, white, crystalline pre- 
paration, entirely soluble in water, possessing a.greater acidity than 
cream of tartar, and is generally guaranteed to be in conformity with 
the Foods and Drugs Act. Its cost to-day is considerably less than 
prices asked for the three other acids whose place it effectively takes. 
OIL OF PINE NEEDLES. 
. 
An interesting paper on essence of pine needles appears in the last 
issue of our esteemed contemporary La Parfumerie . Moderne. 
Generally speaking, the term oil of pine needles comprises the essential 
oils derived, not only from the needle-shaped leaves of the trees, but 
also from the young shoots and cones (that is, the first-year buds) as 
well. The most highly esteemed essence is the Swedish, made, prin- 
cipally, in the neighbourhood of Jénképing. The raw material for 
distillation is really a waste product in the timber industry. When 
the trees are felled and lopped, women and children collect the débris 
and cut off the twigs, leaves, and cones, which are packed in large sacks 
and then carted to the. distilleries. They are there chopped up into 
small pieces in. order to facilitate rapid distillation. They are placed 
in wooden containers through which a rapid current of steam is passed. 
The essential oil collected is rectified, and is,.then a colourless oil, with 
39L of 
