P ick lin g [of sk in s]. IV. Effect on chrom e tanning. E. R. Th e is and A. W. Goetz (J. Amer.
Leather Chem. Assoc., 1933, 28, 193—206; cf. B., 1933,117).—The Cr content of the leather was diminished and th a t of the spent Cr-tanning liquor increased as the H2S 04 absorbed by skins during pickling was increased and as the final p a of the pickle solution was diminished.
The p n of the spent Cr liquor diminished and the S 0 4"
in the spent liquor and wash-waters, respectively, increased as the H2S 04 absorbed by the skins from the
pickle increased. I). W.
C hem istry of lim in g . VI. Influence of various sulphides on unhairing [of hides] w ith calcium hydroxide su sp en sion s. E. K. M o o r e [with R.
Koppe n h o e f e r] (J. Amer. Leather Chem. Assoc., 1933, 28, 206—216 ; cf. B., 1932, 273).—The hair was loosened more quickly on steer hides in Ca(OH)2 suspensions after the addition thereto of As2S2, As2S3, SnS2, Li2S, N a2S, K2S, Cs2S, A12S3, BaS, CaS, and SrS. A list is given of sulphides which did not accelerate hair-loosening. S "
ions were formed in the liquors to which the unhairing sulphides were added, b u t not in the liquors to which the
others were added. D. W .
Influence of sod iu m chloride and m agn esiu m sulphate on h yd rolysis of leather by sulphuric acid. E. L. Wallac e and J . R. Ka n a g y (J. Amer.
Leather Chem. Assoc., 1933, 28, 186—192 ; cf. B., 1932, 1148).—The initial rate of hydrolysis of chestnut- and quebracho-tanned leathers by f i2S 04 solutions was
aa 2
B r itis h C h e m ic a l A b s tr a c ts —B .
482 Cl. XVI.—Agriculture.
diminished by the addition of NaCl or MgS04 to the solution, the effect being greater with MgS04. D. W.
Fluorine-containing cold glue. 0 . Noetzel(Chem.' Ztg,, 1933, 57, 303).—A case of skin eruption is ascribed to Na2SiF6 in cold glue. A. G.
Effect of ageing on the v isco sity of glu e. E.
Sa u e r (Ktrnstd linger u. Leim, 1932, 29, 298—300 ; C'hem. Zentr., 1932, ii, 3823).—Increase in viscosity during drying is greatest for the best glues. Dry glue also gives different vals. according to the method
employed. A. A. E.
A ccuracy of the determ ination of the v isco sity of glue. E. Sa uer (Kunstdiinger u. Leim, 1932, 29, 169—176; Chem. Zentr., 1932,'ii, 2582—2583).—The effect of pretreatm ent a t 30—70° on the viscosity after various intervals was studied. At 30° poorer glues give uniform vals., and others give vals. depending little on the temp, of treatm ent. Good glues give irregular v a ls.;
the temp, employed for these should be 40°, a t which uniform vals. are usually obtained. A. A, E.
Pa t e n t s.
M anufacture of leather. F. Wa v r a (U.S.P.
1,859,417, 24.5.32. Appl., 3.11.30).—Soaked hides are treated with an aq. mixture of Ca(OH)2, N a2S, NaOH, and NaCl, washed, soaked in aq. NaCl, bated, pickled,
and tanned. D, W.
M anufacture of artificial skin and leather.
J. S. Ca m pb e l l (B.P. 390,526, 7.7.31).—Disintegrated hide and/or leather waste is digested with a saponifying agent, then with a vegetable tanning material, the product is dried, incorporated with a binding agent spread on hot rolls or on a textile fabric, calendered,
and vulcanised. D. "\y.
Com position for waterproofing leather. C. E.
Br a d l e yand C. D. Ma so n, Assrs. to Mish a w a k a Ru b b e r
& Woolen Ma n u f g. Co. (U.S.P. 1,860,651,31.5.32. Appl., 3.12.25).—Leather is impregnated with a mixture of rubber latex (100 c.c.), light petiroleum (100 c.c.), paraffin wax (25 g.), paraffin (10 g.), and 10% soap solution
(50 c.c.). D. W.
M anufacture of [synthetic] tanning m aterials.
Rohm & Ha asCo. (B.P. 388,989, 7.7.32. U.S., 14.7.31).
—Products of improved colour from aromatic (especially phenol) sulphonic acids and aldehydes (C1I20) are obtained by controlling the condensation by means of thiocarbamide or substances yielding it. Thus, p- hydroxy-teri.-butylbenzenesulphonic acid and CH20 give a nearly colourless product in presence of 0 -2 mol. of
CS(NH2)2. r c. H .
T reating artificial leather.—See V. Artifical leather.—See XIII.
X VI.— AGRICULTURE.
S oil profile studies. V. M ature p od sols. J. S.
Jo f feand C. W . Watson (Soil Sci., 1933,35, 313—331 ; cf. B., 1932, 477).—Chemical and morphological d ata of two profiles are recorded and discussed. The distribu
tion of sesquioxides in the profile indicates a retardation of the decomp, of mineral complexes in the A-y horizon attributable to the enrichment by bases (notably Ca) following the mineralisation of surface org, m atter.
Movements of Ca, Mg, and K through the profile are of a similar nature, b u t the accumulation of Ca a t the lower levels is much < th a t of Mg and K. The nature of the org. m atter and the C : N ratio vary w ith the horizon, and except in C of one profile is markedly > the commonly accepted val. (10). The high N content of the org. m atter of A 2 may be due to the presence of crenic and apocrenic acids. In the extracted mineral colloids of the B horizon the S i02 : sesquioxide ratio
approaches 2. A. G. P.
D isp ersion and deflocculation of certain so ils.
E. B. Da v ie s (New Zealand J. Sci-Tech., 1933,14, 228—
232).—W ith certain soils presenting difficulty in mechanical analysis by customary methods, the sampleB after pretreatm ent w ith H202 and HC1 are prepared for analysis by motor dispersion in dil. HC1. A. G. P.
D ispersion of soil-form in g a g g reg a tes. C. L.
Clark (Soil Sci., 1933, 35, 291—294).—A crit. con
sideration of the fundamentals of size distribution of
soil particles. A. G. P.
Photonitrification in so il. N. R. Dh a r, A. K.
Bh a t t a c h a r y a, and N. N. Bis w a s (Soil Sci., 1933, 35, 281—284).—Comparison of changes in soils stored in darkness and in light indicates th a t ammonification and nitrite production in soils are accelerated by exposure to light and th a t nitrification is more photochemical th an bacterial in origin. Oxidation of N H4 phosphate in soil is more rapid than th a t of other N H4 salts, and occurs a t approx. the same rate in sterilised and un
sterilised soils. A. G. P.
Soil-tem perature installation . G. A. Ma il (Soil Sci., 1933, 35, 285—289),—Apparatus for the electrical recording of soil temp, a t varying depths is described.
A. G. P.
N itrogen fixation in so m e M ichigan s o ils. L. M.
Tu r k (Mich. Agric. Exp. Sta. Quart. Bull., 1933, 15, 183— 190).—Soils examined have an active non-sym- biotic N-fixing flora. Fixation is increased by the addition to soil of fresh org. m atter (especially legumes), CaO, P, and K, either alone or in combination.
A. G. P.
N itrification of sta ll m anure in arable so il. IX.
D eterm ination of p otassiu m nitrate in soil and m anure. N. Be n g tsso n (Kungl. Landtbruks-Akad., Handl. Tidskr., 1932, 71, 620—659; Chem. Zentr.
1933, ii, 3461).—Aq. extracts were employed, the colloids in the manure extracts being first .pptd. with H2S 0 4. Only the Rotham sted method and the author’s modification of it gave good results for soil, and only the la tter for manure. The extract, containing pumice and quartz, is treated with 20 c.c. of 40% KQH and diluted to 220 c .c .; this is evaporated rapidly to 30 c.c., and the dilution and evaporation are repeated. The solution is then diluted to 250 c.c. and 3 g. of D evarda’s alloy are added. NH3 evolved during reduction of vol. to 40 c.c.
is collected in 0-02Ar-H2S 0 4, which is titrated with 0-02AT-NaOH using Me-red + methylene-blue as
indicator. A. A. E.
Effect of cane m o la sse s on nitrate content of a clay loam so il. H. E. Lu m a n g and L . S. Vil l a n u e v a
(Philippine Agrist., 1932, 21, 432).—Samples of a clay loam soil were mixed w ith molasses so dissolved in
B r itis h C h e m ic a l A b s tr a c ts —B .
Cl. XVI.—Aoricultuhe. 483
H 20 th a t duplicated samples were obtained having combinations of molasses percentages of 0-2, 1*0, 3-0, and 5-0 w ith moisture percentages of 35, 50, 65, and 80 of the H20-holding‘ capacity of the soil. These soil mixtures were kept in tumblers, and moisture was added to replace loss by evaporation. Samples were taken a t the 3rd, 4th, and 6th weeks for nitrate deter
mination. Comparisons with the control indicated a very marked deleterious effect throughout in the case of 0-2% ' of molasses, as also.in th a t of 35 and 80%
humidity, b u t a very decided increase in. the nitrate content occurred a t 65% hum idity using 3% of molasses.
J. P. 0.
[D eterm ination of so il con stitu en ts.] I. N. An t it o v- Ka r a t a ie v (Lenin Agric. Sci. Acad., Inst. Fertilisers Agro-Soil Sci., Leningrad, Bull., 1932, No. 15,148— 159).
In Sehollenberger’s method for determining org. m atter, H2S 04 : H 20 = > 1 : 1 in 0- 4Ar-CrOg is more efficient.
In Szebelledy’s method for determining Fe" the Fe is removed w ith NH4F + K2C204 (5 :1). In the I titra tion methylene-blue is employed to indicate the end
point. Ch. Ab s.
[D eterm ination of phosphate in so il.] K. V.
He r o v, N. I. Al ia m o v sk i, and I. E. Kin z e r s k i (Lenin Agric. Sci. Acad., Inst. Fertilisers Agro-Soil Sci., Lenin
grad, Bull., 1932, No. 15, 137—143).—Scheffer’s volu
metric method is as accurate as Lorenz’ or W oy’s
method. Ch. Ab s.
A sp erg illu s n ig er m ethod of m easu rin g available p otassiu m in s o ils. A. Me h l ic h, E. Tr uo g, and E. B.
Fr e d (Soil Sci., 1933, 35, 259—279).—In the examin
ation of soils containing 1% CaC03, additional acid is required by the cultures to maintain a suitable ph for spore germination and to restrict bacterial growth.
The presence of a no. of salts of Ca, Mg, and Na, and of various acid radicals of K salts, did not m aterially affect the wt. of mycelium produced. The K content of the mycelium m ay be determined directly or obtained by interpolation of a specially constructed curve. Results compare favourably w ith those of the Neubauer and Mitscherlich methods, w ith fertiliser trials, and the customary extraction methods. A. G. P.
A m m oniation of peat for fertilisers. R. O. E.
Da v is and W . Scholl (Science, 1 933, 7 7 , 3 3 0 — 3 3 1 ).—
T reatm ent of peat with anhyd. NH3 in a steel bomb a t temp, up to 3 0 0 ° yields a product containing up to 2 0 % of available N which is partly H20-sol. and partly H20-insol., and well suited for use as a conditioner in mixed fertiliser or for direct application. L. S. T.
P h y siological reaction of fe rtilisers. S. Os c g iand T. En d o (J. Sci. Soil Manure, Japan, 1932, 6, No. 1, 22-^—34).—Neubauer’s seedling method was applied to various chemical N fertilisers. Ch. Ab s.
D ecom p osition of organic fe rtilisers. IV. S traw s.
S. Osu g iand T. Goto (J. Agric. Chem. Soc. Japan, 1932, 8, 640—651).—A low C : N ratio is associated with rapid decomp. Straws of maize, rice, pampas grass, rye, and wheat, and rice hulls were examined. Ch. Ab s.
R elation betw een d ecom position of green m a n ures a t different tem peratures and their chem ical con stitu en ts. H. M isu (J. Sci. Soil Manure, Japan,
1932, 6, No. 1, 1).—The relation between the compos
ition of grasses and the development of NH 3, H N 0 3, and
acidity was studied. Ch. A b s.
F ertilisin g value of P eruvian n itrogenous gu an os.
Y . Ha y a s m and H . Ya g i (J. Sci. Soil Manure, Japan, 1932,6,No. 1, 76—82).—P o t experiments were conducted with rice and barley. Ch. Ab s.
M icrobiology of organ ic m an u res. 1(b). D eco m position of rape cake b y various stock cultures.
A . It a n oand S. Ar a k a w a (J. Sci. Soil Manure, Japan, 1932, 6, No. 1, 35—5 2 ; cf. B., 1932, 695).
M anuring of w h eat. G. Tom m asi (Ann. R. Staz.
Chim.-Agr. sperim. Roma, 1933, Pubbl. No. 284, 43 pp.).
—The correction and manuring of poorly-yielding soils, especially in hot dry climates, the org. and inôrg. fertilis
ing of highly fertile soils in different climates, the winter application of nitrates, etc. are considered in relation to
wheat-growing. T. H. P.
Effect of com m ercial fertilisers on the quality of w heat. G. S u r â n y i (Mezôgaz. Kôz., 1931, 4 , 440).—
N aN 03 gave b etter results than CaCN2 ; P205 (partic
ularly superphosphate) was harmful only in compara
tive excess. Ch. A b s.
F ertilisation of cereals by direct application of nitrogen. A. Dr a g h e t t i and A. Fa b b r i (Ann. R. Staz.
sperim. agr. Modena, 1932, 2 , 112— 163 ; Chem. Zentr., 1932, ii, 3605).—Comparative tests w ith Ca(N03)2, (NH4)2S 0 4, and CaCN2 are recorded. Increasing applica
tions of Ca(N03)2 always increased the yield, whilst the other substances in high concn. gave diminishing yields.
A. A. E.
L ysim eter fertilisation te sts w ith cereals and direct application of nitrogen. A. Dr ag h e t t i
(Ann. R. Staz. sperim. agr. Modena, 1932, 2, 164—241;
Chem. Zentr., 1932, ii, 3605).—A study of the yield of green- and dry-substance, and the straw : grain ratio, for the application under different conditions of Ca(N03)2, (NH4)2S 0 4, and CaCN2. A. A. E.
N itrogen a ssim ila tio n b y cereal plants during cold sp rin g. P ot exp erim en ts. A. Dr a g h e t t i(Ann.
R. Staz. sperim. agr. Modena, 1932,2, 242—280 ; Chem.
Zentr., 1932, ii, 3605).
Effect of so il m o istu re on availab ility of nitrate, phosphate, and p otassiu m to the tom ato plant.
E . M. Em m ertand F. K . Ba l l(Soil Sci., 1933,3 5 , 295— 306).—Analysis of plants from soils maintained a t different moisture contents showed th a t a low moisture supply (10% in soil).reduced nitrification, b u t not the ability of the plant to absorb N 0 3'. Ability to absorb P 0 4'" was, however, reduced and N 0 3' tended to accum
ulate in the plant as the result of restricted tissue form
ation. Photosynthesis and general plant metabolism are restricted by a reduced H 20 supply within the plant.
Higher N 0 3' accumulation in plants was observed in soils of 20% moisture than in those having 40%, there being higher utilisation of N a t the higher H 20 content.
Following the initial absorption of readily available P 0 4" ', the P concn. in the plant was directly related to the % of soil moisture. The [K ] in plants was lowered b y soitè of high (40%) H 20 content. ' A. G. P.
B r itie h C h e m ic a l A b s tr a c t* —B .
484 Cl. XVI.—Ag r i c u l t u r e.
C hanges in valuable constituents of potato tubers during w inter storage in relation to yield , nature, and am ount of potash application and the quantity o f nitrogenous fertiliser used in the previous year.
II. F. BERKNERand W. Schlimm (Landw. Jahrb., 1933, 77, 113—155 ; cf. B., 1933, 360).—The proportion of tubers rotting during winter storage was highest in those manured with kainit (I) and least with those receiving K 2S 0 4 (II). Increasing applications of N fertilisers tended to reduce rotting. Loss of H 20 and dry m atter during storage increased with increasing applications of N and was somewhat greater where Cl'- than where S 0 4"- containing fertilisers were used. The starch content of potatoes was reduced by all forms of K fertilisers, (I) being more active than (II) in this respect. Crop yields from “ seed ” potatoes which had been manured w ith K in the previous year were < those which had received no K previously. This residual effect was greater for late than for early applications of K, and more pro
nounced for (I) than for (II). The starch content of early potatoes was ]> th a t of late ones, irrespective of the period of application of K. Seed receiving (I) in the previous season yielded crops of lower starch content than those treated with (II). Vais, for the la tte r were approx. the same as for tubers unmanured with K in the previous year. Deterioration of seed quality in successive crops was accelerated by the use of (I). N fertilisers increased the vitality of seed. The ash and K contents of tubers were reduced by the use of N fertilisers and were greater when K was applied a t the tim e of planting than ju st prior to flowering. The general inferiority of Cl'- as compared with S 0 4"-containing fertilisers is minimised by application in autum n and by the simul
taneous use of N fertilisers. A. 6 . P.
Soil type and [sugar] beet qu ality. E. Troje(Deut.
Zuckerind., 1933, 58, 27—28).—Beets grown in South Germany on a heavy, black, humus soil have been noticed to be of unsatisfactory quality, in contrast with roots from a Northern district on a predominantly chernozem soil. T h e y are soft and difficult to slice, and yield a raw juice in the working of which soda addition is necessary to secure satisfactory defecation. Its ash content is high and the sugar obtained difficult to cure.
The Southern soil appears to have a deficiency of P 0 4'"
and an excess of N. J. P. 0 .
E xam ination of beetroot seed s. L. Bu s s a r d (Ann.
Falsif., 1933, 26, 144—149).—Chemical analyses are of little, if any, val. The fertility and the size of the derived plants increase w ith the size of the seed glom erules;
optimum conditions for laboratory tests are obtained w ith a H 20 content of 14%. T, McL.
F orest floor under stan d s of aspen and paper birch. F. J . Al w a y and J. Kit t r e d g e, j u n. (Soil Sci,, 1933, 35, 307—312).—D ata concerning the volatile m atter, N, and Ca content« and p a of a no. of samples
are recorded. A . G. P .
R esponse of m aize ear w o rm to various su gar solu tion s. L . P. Dit m a n and E. N . Co r y (J . Econ.
Entom., 1933, 26, 109— 115).—In poisoned baits the attractiveness of sucrose, invert sugar, and fructose was
in the order named. A. G. P.
T artar em etic a s a poison for the tobacco horn- w orm m o th s. J . U, Gilm o r e and J. Mil am (J. Econ.
Entom ., 1933, 26, 227—233).—In m oth-trapping experi
ments satisfactory results were obtained w ith a 5%
solution of ta rta r emetic containing woamyl salicylate as
as attractan t. A . G. P.
D usting exp erim en ts to control the blueberry m a g g o t. L. C. McAl ist e r (J. Econ. Entom ., 1933,26, 221—227).—Several applications of Ca3(A s04)2 (I) were necessary for effective control. A m ixture of (I) and Ca(0H)2 (1 :1) was as effective wt. for wt. as (I) alone.
Indications of high-% control w ith Cu carbonate dust
are recorded. A . G. P.
C ontrolling the w inter em ergence of the Japanese beetle in ro se greenhouses b y application of chem icals to the so il. F . W . Me t z g e r (J. Econ.
Entom ., 1933,26, 205—210).—Admixture of Pb arsenate (I) or of BaSiF6 with the surface soil gave good results.
Top dressing with (I) was less effective. Use of Ca(OH)2
was not satisfactory. A. G. P.
Insecticides for control of the M exican bean b eetle. N. F. Ho w a r d, L. W . Br a n n o n, and H , C.
Ma so n (J. Econ. Entom ., 1933, 26, 123—129).—Satis
factory control is obtained by spraying with K hexafluo- aluminate or with synthetic cryolite (3 lb. per 50 gals.) or with BaSiF6 (5 lb. per 50 gals.). Neither compound was suitable when applied as a dust. Risk of poisonous residues on treated beans is n o t eliminated by use of F
compounds. A . G. P.
Control of the H arlequin bug (M a rg an tia hts- trionica, H ah n ). H. G. Wa l k e rand L. D . An d e r so n
(J. Econ. Entom ., 1933, 26, 129—135).—Best results were obtained with rotenone-soap preps. Nicotine, pyrethrum , and oil-emulsion sprays were effective only
a t high concns. A . G. P.
T arnished plant bug injury to celery. L. L. Hil l
(J. Econ. Entom., 1933, 26, 148— 150).—Dusting with S (>■ 300-mesh) alone or in combination with Ca(OH)2 either as a dust or spray gave satisfactory results.
A. G. P.
N aphthalene for control of onion th rip s. F. B.
Ma u g h a n (J, Econ. Entom ., 1933, 26, 143—147).—
Applications of crude C10H g (300 lb. per acre), preferably applied directly on the rows, proved satisfactory.
A. G. P.
G ladiolus thrips (T seniothrips g la d io li). E. I.
M c D a n i e l (Mich. Agric. Exp. Sta. Quart, Bull., 1933, 15, 168—172).—Successful treatm ent of corms with C10H 8, Ca(CN)2, CS2, or Hg compounds and of growing plante with Pb arsenate-D erm preps, are described.
A. G. P.
B iology and control o f M ettrion a b in itta ta . S ay.
L. A. S t e a r n s (J. Econ. Entom., 1933, 26, 151— 154).—
Single applications of Pb or Ca arsenate gave complete control and plant injury was slight. A. G. P.
Control of “ leather jackets ” (T íp u la p alu do sa, M g n ., and T. oleracea, L .) b y ch em ica l m eth o d s.
H . Ga so w (Landw. Jahrb., 1933, 77, 69— 112).—The use of N aF and Na2SiF6 as a substitute for Schweinfurt Green for this purpose is examined. A. G. P.
B r itis h C h e m ic a l A b s tr a c t* —B .
Cl. X V I I . — S u o a b s ; S t a r c h e s ; G u m s. 485
A ction of so il on cem en t etc.—See IX. Sugar beets.—See XVII.
See also A., May, 475, H 2S 50 8 and its sa lts as fungicides etc. 484, S oil m a p . S oil a cid ity and classification . 537, N itrifyin g o r g a n ism s in so il.
S i 0 2 bacteria. 543, D eterm ination of a tm . C 0 2 n ecessary for plan ts. N 2 fixation b y ald ers.
Pa t e n t s.
M anufacture of in secticid es. R. H. Carter
(U.S.P. 1,863,266 and 1,863,519, 14.6.32. Appl., 15.11.29).—(a) An intim ate, light powdery m ixture of hydrated A120 3, S i0 2, and K 3A1F6 is obtained by mixing A12(S 04)3, KOH, and H 2SiF„ in the mol. ratio of 1 : 12 : 2 and washing out the K 2S 0 4 formed in the reaction.
(b) A similar product free from S i0 2 is obtained by substituting < 12 mols. of H F for the 2 mols. of
HjSiFg. A. R. P.
Fungicides, in secticid es, and the lik e. Gr a s s e l l i Ch e m. Co. (B.P. 390,205 and 390,521, 1.10.31. U.S., 1.10.30).—(a) Mixtures of S with (a) >■ 5% of a dry, finely-divided A1 or Zn oxide, hydroxide, anhyd.
sulphate, basic sulphate, or other non-hygroscopic salt, and (b) 10% of Mn arsenate (I) of low H 20-sol. As20 6 content, are claimed. (I) is prepared by treating M n02 with As20 3 under a steam pressure of 80 lb./sq. in. and treating the product with an alkaline agent of which the arsenate is sol. with difficulty in H 20 . Small quantities of, e.g., A1(0H)3, Zn(OH)2, A12(S 04)3, or
Z nS04 m ay be added. L. A. C.
F ertilisers.—See VII.
XVII.— SUGARS ; STARCHES; GUMS.
Evaluation of beets for su gar m anufacture.
P. J. H. v a n Gin n e k e n and J . R. Br u in sm a (Meded.
Inst. Suikerbietent., 1933,3,1— 62).— I t being impossible to determine the quantity of each molasses-former present separately, a direct determ ination of the sugar yield should be made by subjecting a sufficiently large sample of beets to diffusion, clarification, evaporation, and crystallisation in order to arrive a t a sugar balance.
One result obtained so far is th a t the salt coeff. of the molasses diminishes with the coeff. of the syrup ; hence it follows th a t the larger is the quantity of ash, the less harmful is it proportionally to the crystallisation. The difference between the “ nitric ” coeffs. of molasses from true sugar beets and from half-sugar and fodder beets
is large. J. P. O.
Sugar b eets. Relation of inorganic constituents to su g a r content and purity. A. R. Ne e s (Ind. Eng.
Chem., 1933,25, 462—465).—The ash (% on dry m atter) and the Ca and Mg contents of the ash of sugar beet form an index of quality. An excessive am ount of nitrates in the soil stimulates absorption of Na and Cl in the beet, and increases the ratio of sol. to insol.
non-sugar solids. E. B. H.
Producing w h ite su g a r from su g a r cane. An o n. (M adras A g ric. J ., 1932, 20, 461—467).—O pen p a n s are u sed , a n d a n e x tr a c t o f cru sh ed b e n d is te m s a n d a n a lk a lin e ea rth is a d d e d j u s t a s t h e ju ic e c o m m e n c e s to b o il, t h e sc u m s fo rm ed b e in g la d e lle d o ff. A fte r
crystallisation the sugar is recovered as white crystals by centrifuging. The process is recommended for the use of small ryots cultivating 15—20 acres of cane for making a grade of white sugar satisfactory to the Indian
market. J. P. O.
F rothing in the carbonatation of fractionally
F rothing in the carbonatation of fractionally