X V .— LEATHER; GLUE

M icroscopic technique w ith special reference to m icro-tannology. F . O ’Fl a h e r t y (J. Amer.

Leather Chem. Assoc.,1931,26, 257—263).—The reagents and methods employed in cutting, staining, and mount­

ing skin sections are described. D. Wo o d r o ff e. N a ^ O * .—See VII.

Pa t e n t s.

T reatm ent of hides, sk in s, and p elts. J. Y.

Jo h n so n. From I. G. Fa r b e n in d. A.-G. (B.P. 346,836, 18.1. and 24.2.30).—-The epidermal layer of the hides etc., which have been pretreated with an aq. solution of an alkali, a dil. acid, and/or a neutral water-soluble salt, is removed and the skins are simultaneously bated by treatm ent in a liquor a t 40° and at p u 6 • 7—12 • 0 with the enzymes found in Carica papaya, with or without other proteolytic enzymes. D. Wo o d r o ff e.

Tanning agent. A. Sch m id t, Assr. to I. G. Fa r b­

e n in d. A.-G. (U.S.P. 1,780,983, 11.11.30. Appl., 4.1.29. Ger., 7.9.26).—Fish oil (100 pts.) or other animal oil or fat is emulsified in 200 pts. of aq. (5% solution) alkylcellulose (e.g., methyl- or dimethyl-cellulose).

D . Wo o d r o f f e. Manufacture of titanium tanning preparations.

I. G. Fa r b e n in d. A.-G. (B.P. 346,009, 1.1.30. Ger., 2.1.29).—Solutions containing Ti sulphate are neutralised by the addition of, e.g., Na2C03 in quantity such that the solutions contain 0-3—0-5 mol. H2S 04 per mol.

T i0 2, and are then concentrated or evaporated to dryness. The product is soluble in II20. L. A. Co l e s.

Production of [dry] adhesives. G. Mo r in s (B .P . 346,264, 25.10.29).—Glue, casein, or other albuminous substance is hydrolysed by means of alkalis, enzymes, or enzyme mixtures mixed with a hygroscopic substance and, if desired, with fillers and/or rubber latex, applied to bands, plates, rollers, etc. and dried.

D . Wo o d r o f f e. Wetting agents. Protection of m aterials.—See III. Fibrous sheet. Paper-coating com position.

—See V. Vulcanisation of rubber[ leather joints].

Adhesive.—See XIV.

XVI.— AGRICULTURE.

N itrogen-fixing bacteria in so ils. M. Se l im

(Zentr. Bakt. Par., 1931, 83, II, 311—325).—Compara­

tive determinations of the amounts of N fixed by numer­

ous soil organisms are recorded. The addition of soil and of certain mineral-soil constituents to cultures of the organisms stimulated N fixation. A. G. Po l la r d.

Presence of butyric acid bacteria in silage and their signilicance. G. Ru s chm a n n and L. Ha r d e r

(Zentr. Bakt. Par., 1930, 83, II, 325—349).—The proportion of free and combined butyric acid and of AcOII in various types of silage is recorded, to­

gether with the Amylobacter content. The number of Amylobacter in silage is a criterion of its quality.

A. G. Po l l a r d. Effect of the C : N ratio on the decom position of organic m atter in soil. I. Effect of nitrogen com ­ pounds on the decom position of carbon com ­ pounds. II. Effect of carbon compounds on soluble nitrogen com pounds. S. Os u g i, S. Yo s iiie, and J. Kom atsu bara(Mem. Coll. Agric., Kyoto, 1931, [12], 1—39).—I. The decomposition of organic matter in soil, under conditions m et with in dry and wet rice fields, is accelerated by the addition of available N [as (NH4)2S 04], the effect being greater for difficultly decomposable material under unfavourable conditions.

The optimum C : N ratio for the decomposition of dextrose and filter paper is about 1 0 : 1 under dry and 5 : 1 under wet conditions, though it is noted th at these ratios change during decomposition due to liberation of C02 and to the microbiological assimilation of C and N compounds. The optimum ratios for rice straw are 3 0 :1 and 20: 1, respectively, these ratios being influenced by the fact th a t rice straw contains difficultly decomposable C compounds and some available N.

II. Soluble N added to the soil is converted into insoluble forms by the addition of organic material, the

B r i t is h C h e m ic a l A b s t r a c t s —B .

640 Cl. XVI.—■AciEiotrLTtxBi:.

rate being dependent on the amount of the addition.

This action is very different under dry and wet condi­

tions, the action in the latter case being slow. N rendered insoluble in this way may not be available to the plant even after 240 days. E. Ho l m e s.

Effect of h yd rogen peroxide on so il organic m a tter . W | McLean (J. Agric. Sci., 1931, 21, 251—

261).—The oxidation of soil organic m atter proceeds in two stages, viz., (a) oxidation of organic m atter con­

taining 0 and N, (6) oxidation of nitrogen-free matter.

If 6% II,0 „ be used for determining the degree of humification of soils, (a) is succeeded by (b), which is continued to an extent varying with amount of reagent used and the original C content of the soil. Use of 3%

II203 restricts the oxidation to (a). Material involved in (a) has a C : H ratio of 1 0 : 1 and is built up of a protein complex in association with a carbohydrate complex of high C content. The unattacked residue from (a) consists of a nitrogenous portion not affected even by 6% H202 and a N-free portion (possibly cellu­

lose) which can be destroyed almost completely by

6% H20 2. The “ oxidisable m atter ” (a + b) in mineral, carbonate-free soils includes 85% and 83%, respectively, of the total C and N. In carbonate soils the figures are lower, but increase with repeated treat­

ment with I I20 2. High percentages of “ oxidisable organic m atter ” are associated with soils of high

fertility. A. G. P o l l a r d .

“ S tick y -p o in t” water of soils. II. B. d e C.

Ma r ch a n d (J. Agric. Sci., 1931, 21, 324—336; cf. B., 1931, 311).—The water content (vol.-%, bu t not wt.-%) of soil a t the “ sticky point ” is a rectilinear function of the colloidal content of the soil. Additions of NaCI reduced the sticky-point moisture of soils, the effect being small with solutions more dil. than 0-liY. The reduction in the case of Na2C03 was considerably greater. The “ loss on ignition ” is not a satisfactory indication of the colloidal status of a soil.

A. G. Po l l a r d. Effect of th e alternation of la y e rs of different textu re on so il-m o istu r e con d ition s, esp ecia lly d uring d ry in g . J. H. E n g e l h a r d t (Soil Res., 1931, 2, 204—219).—Apparatus is described for determining the max. and inin. negative capillary pressures of moist soils. The formation of “ canals ” within the soil mass and their influence on the capillary rise of water are examined. ' A. G. P o l l a r d .

A g g reg a tin g effect of fro st on s o ils . E. J u n g (Kolloidchem. Beih., 1931, 32 , 320—373 ; cf. B., 1931, 454).—Sedimentation and permeability measurements of the degree of aggregation of soii particles after freezing the suspensions in aqueous acetone have shown th a t the aggregating effect is greater the slower is the rate of cooling. This result is related to the size of the ice particles produced. Cooling by liquid air produces ice crystals of such small size th a t no aggregating effect is observed. The effect varies also with the amount of water present, suggesting th a t there is an equilibrium between the adsorption forces of the soil and the crystall­

isation tendency of the water. An increase in viscosity after freezing was observed only with clays.

E. S. He d g e s.

Methods for determ ining the hydrogen-ion concentration of so ils. R. J. B e s t (J. Agric. Sci., 1931, 21, 336—365).—The H, quinhydrone, and Sb electrodes are compared in p n determinations of numerous Australian soils. The Sb* electrode exhibits the same “ adaptation lag ” as does the quinhydrone electrode, the effect in both cases being more pronounced in soil suspensions than in simple solutions. Higher oxides of Mn are responsible for unsatisfactory results obtained with the quinhydrone electrode for eeitain basaltic soils. A. G. P o l l a r d .

Rapid m ethod for determ ining the sand content of soils. L. W o l f , II. S c h l a t t e r , and W . J u n g (Soil Res., 1931, 2, 220—231).—A centrifugal machine is described in which the coarser soil particles are separated on a series of screens and the finer fractions by centri­

fugal action. A. G. P o l l a r d . Seasonal variations in com position of pasture under different m anurial treatm ent. A. A. H a l l and J. H a r g r a v e (J.S.C.L, 1931, 5 0 , 167—169 t).—

The chemical changes in certain soils from the N orth­

umberland County Council Experiment Farm brought about by thirty years’ manuring, and the seasonal variations in the composition of the pasture under varied manurial treatments, are described.

Nutritive value of pasture. VII. Influence of the intensity of grazing on the yield, com position, and nutritive value of pasture herbage. III.

H. E. W o o d m an , D. B . N o r m a n , and M. H. F r e n c h (J. Agric. Sci., 1931, 21, 267—324; cf. B ., 1931, 83).—

Herbage cut a t varying intervals is examined. During April and May the composition of the grasses remained the same whether cut a t 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-weekly intervals, significant differences appearing only during the flush period of growth. At this stage there was a higher crude protein content, lower crude fibre, and slightly low N-free extractive content in weekly- as against monthly- cut grass. The intensive use of fertilisers did not affect the composition of the grasses examined during the year of application. The interval of grazing in the early part of the season under intensive treatment may be increased to 4 weeks without loss of digestibility, digestible protein, or of starch equivalent, except under drought conditions when lignification is intensified.

Later in the season the digestible protein content of monthly-cut grass falls below th a t of grass cut a t shorter intervals, lowest values being reached in mid-June.

Little difference in starch equivalent was, however, observed. Until April monthly-cut herbage had a nutrient ratio corresponding with a conc. nitrogenous food. During May-June the ratio widened, making the ration too bulky for heavy-milking cows (> 5 gals.), unless supplemented with concentrates. Composition of herbage during severe drought showed a sharp decline in protein content, slight increases in N-free extractives and crude fibre, considerable increase in Ca, and a corresponding fall in P 20 5 content, nutritive ratio, and digestibility. Effects of fertilisers on the yield and composition of hay and aftermath are recorded and

discussed. A. G. P o l l a r d .

Intensive system of grassland m anagem ent.

II. Mineral content of intensively treated pasture

B r itis h C h e m ic a l A b s t r a c t s — B .

Cl. X V I.— Ag m c u l t d k e. 6 4 7

and a relationship between the nitrogen and phosphorus contents. A. W. Gr e e n h il l and H. J.

P age. III. Seasonal variation in the mineral content of pasture, with particular reference to drought. W. S. Fe r g u s o n (J. Agric. Sci., 1931, 21, 220—232, 233—240 ; cf. B., 1931, 82).—I. Analyses of intensively manured pasture cut a t 3—5-week intervals are recorded. Variations in the Ca content were con­

siderable, bu t showed no definite seasonal change. The P content decreased during drought and through the early summer flush with a subsequent recovery in each case, the variations being closely correlated with the N content. The total ash and S i02 contents of the herbage showed less definite seasonal changes, average values being practically the same in all trials examined. A pasture receiving only phosphate had lower total ash and P contents than samples intensively treated, but similar proportions of Ca and S i02.

II. The mineral composition of pasture herbage was markedly affected by the drought conditions of 1929, the Ca, P, and N contents decreasing, Cl increasing, Na remaining constant. During the subsequent wet autumn and winter the Ca and Cl contents decreased and the P20 5, Na, and N contents increased. K20 variations were irregular, a fairly high level being maintained during the drought period, with a decrease in December. The N content was closely dependent on rainfall.

A . G. Po l l a r d. Fertility of the fundam ental soil zones of the U .S .S .R . and their fertiliser requirem ents. A. N.

Le b e d ia n t z e v (Udobr. Urozhai, 1930, 2, 351—363).—

Chemical analyses of various types of soil are recorded graphically and in tables. Pot and field experiments on fertility are also recorded. All zones show deficiencies decreasing in the order N, P, K. The podsols and watered desert soils, containing the least amount of K, respond best to fertilisers in general. The southern portion of the chernozem zone shows least response, the northern chernozems being intermediate.

Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s. Effect of fertilisers on the phosphorus content of plants. J. H. Mit c h e l l (Phosphorus Digest, 1931, Mar., 6—7).—Application of complete fertilisers con­

taining 10—12% P205 gave average increases of 27, 42, and 47% in the P2Os content of oats, soya beans, and grass, respectively. Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s.

Effect of increasing d ressings of phosphates on R iesling and Burgundy vines. C. Dr e y s p r in g and H. Ku r t h (Superphosphate, 1931, 4, 93—103).—Super­

phosphate markedly increased the growth of vines.

The thickness of the stems, the number of nodes, and the internodal lengths were all increased in proportion to the amount of superphosphate applied.

A . G. Po l l a r d. Absorption and utilisation of potassium by plants. R. P. Ba r th o lo m ew and G. Ja n s s e n (Proc.

Assoc. Southern Agric. "Workers, 31st. Conv., 1930, 242—245).—The min. K concentration for optimal growth is for lucerne and Hubam clover 0-5, for cow peas, oats, soya bean, and cotton 2-0, and for Sudan grass 3-0 p.p.m.; good growth was made a t 0’5 p.p.m.

Although plants absorb K rapidly, symptoms of K starvation in the later stages of growth are infrequent,

since the element is transferred from older to em­

bryonic regions. Ch e m ic a l Ab s t r a c t s. Effects of varied dressings of ground lim estone in the field. H . II. Nicholso n(J. Agric. Sci., 1931,21, 262—266).—Results of applications of CaO are compared with lime-requirement determinations (Hutchinson and McLennan). On arable land, equilibrium of soil with added CaO may be attained 1— 2 yrs. after the applica­

tion. The reduction of lime requirement corresponding to a given dressing of CaO is approx. the same for different soils. CaC03 added to the soil is rapidly transformed into exchangeable Ca to an extent depending on the nature of the soil. A. G. Po lla r d.

Extraction of papain, the active digestive prin­

ciple from papaya. H. D. Se n (J. Agric. Sci., 1931, 21, 209—219).—Effects on the yield of papain of varying the number and period of lanciugs, of manuring, and of varietal differences are recorded. Potash deficiency markedly reduces yields. The effect of phosphate deficiency is less definite. A. G. Po l l a r d.

Constituents of manures and rate of their d ecom ­ position in soil. S. Osu g iand S. Yo s h ie (Mem. Coll.

Agric., Kyoto, 1931, [1 2], 41—57.—The composition and behaviour in the soil of the following manures are detailed : soya-bean cake, rape-seed cake, genge (Astra­

galus loloides), saatwicken, rice straw, herring cake, and steamed bone dust. The greater part of the con­

stituents of these manures was decomposed in the soil in 17 days, the ether- and water-soluble constituents being easily decomposed. The amounts of water- soluble residues rendered insoluble were most marked with the vegetable manures. The decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose was affected appreciably by the amount of N present; if sufficient were present, 77—80% of cellulose and 60—70 or even 90% of hemi­

cellulose were decomposed in 45 days. The maximum, amount of organic nitrogenous compounds decomposed was 60% ; lignin was scarcely decomposed in any case.

E. Ho l m e s. Preservation of manure under arid clim atic conditions. H. N. Wa t e n pa u g h (New Mexico Agric.

Exp. Sta. Bull., 1931, No. 190, 8 pp.).—Min. losses of N and dry m atter from manure stacks occur when the wet manure is compacted immediately on storage and as little surface as possible exposed. Under these conditions decomposition is small, but proceeds rapidly after incorporation in the soil. The action of such manure is somewhat slower, but more lasting, than ¿hat applied in a more advanced stage of decomposition.

A. G. Po l l a r d. Determ ination of barium fluosilicate spray residue. R. H. Ca r t e r (Ind. Eng. Chem. [Anal.], 1931, 3, 146—147).—Figures show th at the av. residue varies from 0-031 to 0-144 grain/lb. on apples. This residue is removed and determined by washing first with boiling NaOH solution and then with dil. acid, filtering, and precipitating the Ba. These residues refer to approx.

80% of the total, whereas As is always reported as As20 3, which in the case of Pb arsenate is about 30%

of the total residue. T. McLa c h la n. Rapid determ ination of m ercury in insecticides.

F. We s s e l and M. Ke s s l e r (Chem.-Ztg., 1931, 55,

B r itis h C h e m ic a l A b s t r a c t s — B .

0 4 8 Ch. X V II.— S u g a r s ; S t a r c h e s ; G u m s .

318.)—The Hg is extracted from the material by shaking it with slightly alkaline K I solution, the filtered solution is shaken with NaOH and CH20 to precipitate the ITg as metal, and, after acidification with AcOH, the Hg is dissolved in an excess of 0-lAr-I solution ; the excess I is titrated with Na2S20 3. A. R. P o w e l l .

Cheaper power.—See I. Calcium phosphate etc.

—See VII. Cattle excreta.—See XIX.

Pa t e n t s.

Manufacture of [nitrogenous and phosphatic]

fertilisers. I m p e r i a l Chem. I n d u s t r i e s , L t d . (B.P.

347,974, 18.7.30. U.S., 20.7.29).—Superphosphates (preferably triple) are treated with NH3 in two or more stages, preferably with aq. and with liquid anhyd.

NH3 in successive stages, and the solid product is cooled between each treatm en t; the percentage of citrate- insoluble P205 in the final product is less than when the treatment is effected in one stage. L . A. Co l e s.

Manufacture of phospho-nitro-potassium fer­

tiliser. L ’A i r L iq u id e Soc. A n o n , p o u r l ’E t u d e e t l ’E x p l o i t . d e s P r o c . Ct. C la u d e , Assees. of Soc.

B e l g e d e l ’A z o te S oc. A n o n . (B .P . 347,729, 2.1.30.

Holl., 3.1.29).—The final mother-liquor of the process is treated with mixture of C 0 2 and oxides of P , and the filtered liquor is charged with a mixture of NaCl and KC1, with more of the gas mixture, and with NH3 to produce a mixture of KC1, NHjCl, and (X II,j)3P 0 4 for use as a fertiliser. Mg compounds, if prasent, are recovered as Mg phosphates in the fertiliser

mixture. L . A. C o le s .

Insecticides. I. G. F a r b e n i n d . A.-G. (B.P. 343,938, 25.11.29. Ger., 26.11.28).—Aralkyl thiocyanates carry­

ing a thioether group, e.g., 2-methylthiol-5-methyl- benzyl thiocyanate, m.p. 55° (from NH4CNS, and the product from methylated thio-p-cresol, CH20, and IIC1), are dissolved in a water-miscible organic solvent (COMe2), preferably with addition of wetting agent (alkylnaphthalenesulphonic acid), and diluted for use against green fly ; 0-015% is effective. C. H o l l i n s .

Insecticide [for exterm inating T e tr a n y c h u s te l- a r iu s , L .]. A. H a r t z e l l , Assr.to B o y c e -T h o m p so n I n s t , f o r P l a n t R e s e a r c h , I n c . (U.S.P. 1,781.841, 18.11.30.

Appl., 9.7.26).-—S vapour is condensed in a mixture of oil, fish-oil soap, and water. L. A. C o le s .

Disinfecting and stim ulating seeds. K. W e r b a (B.P. 346,014, 27.9.29).—The seeds before sowing are treated with disinfecting gases or vapours, e.g., chromyl halides, halogen-substituted hydrocarbons, CHaO or its derivatives, which may be liberated by burning cartridges containing substances, e.g., KM n04, for regu­

lating the rate of liberation of the gases etc. [Stat.

ref.] L. A. C oles.

R oller pulveriser.—See I. Paper from plant fibre.

—See V. Fixation of am m onia-nitrogen.—See VII.

XVII.— SU G A R S; STARCHES; GUMS.

Action of sulphides on [sugar-factory] filter- cloth. 0 . S p e n g l e r (Deut. Zuckerind., 1931, 56, 17—18).—Alkaline sulphides are shown to have a very destructive effect on filter-cloth, their presence being traced to the S sublimed from the raw materials of the

lime kiln, which ultimately passes into the press muds of the first carbonatation. In contact with the filter- press cloths, the sulphides are fixed by the cellulose, later oxidising with the liberation of H 2S 0 4 in the

fibre. J. P. Og il v ie.

Influence of pre-lim ing on [beet] juice working and sugar quality. E. N a e i i r i n g (Deut. Zuckerind., 1930, 5 5 , 1353).—Raw juice in the measuring tanks is pre-limed with 0-15—0-2% CaO, and after being rapidly heated to 90—95° enters a storage tank through an overflow pipe, in front of the first tank of the first carbonatation station, into which milk of lime to the amount of 1 • 25% CaO is admitted. Two tanks are used at the second carbonatation. In the first 0-05%

of CaO is added and the juice carbonatated, while S 02 from a bomb is admitted into the over-flow between the first and second tanks. Soda for de-liming is added to the juice in the second tank, the final alkalinity being 0-017—0-012%. Press muds remarkably low in sugar, a superior first-product sugar, and higher yield are among the advantages observed in this method of

working. J. P. Og il v ie.

D igestibility of the protein scu m s obtained on defecating beet diffusion juice. V. S â z a v s k y , K . S a n d e r a , and C. A. R u z ic k a (Z. Zuckerind. Czechoslov., 1931, 5 5 , 415—419).—Samples of scums obtained by different methods of coagulating beet diffusion juice in laboratory and factory were found to contain as much as 42% of indigestible N compounds (raw proteins).

J. P. Og il v ie. Im purities in w hite sugars. I. Determ ination of phosphorus. S. B y a l i , and J. A . A m b le r (Ind.

Eng. Chem. [Anal.], 1931, 3 , 136—137).—Traces of impurities affect caramélisation on heating and fer­

mentation on storage. Lecithin, present in the cane, is hydrolysed to glycerophosphoric acid by CaO, nucleic acid being hardly affected ; neither of the latter is removed in the refineiy. P, total and inorganic, is determined by Brigg’s modification of the Bell-Doisy method (cf. A ., 1922, ii, 718). T. M c L a c h l a n .

M easurem ent of colour in solutions of w hite sugars. J. A . A m b le r and S. B y a l l (Ind. Eng. Chem.

[Anal.], 1931, 3 , 135—136).—The colour of white sugar is due to occluded and adhering films of the liquors from which it has been crystallised, lienee it can be measured usually by comparison w ith a standard caramel solution. If the colour is abnormal, e.g., grey or green, it can be measured only by use of the spectro­

scope. There is no relationship between the initial colour of a sugar and th a t of the candy prepared from it.

T. McLa c h la n. Stability of stored starch syrup. C. Lucicow (Pharm. Zentr., 1931, 72, 321—322).—Starch syrups can be stored without showing growth of fungi or fermenting provided they are pure, are not diluted with water, and are kept a t a low temp, in lac-lined drums. Tinplate may be used for the construction of the drums, but the use of galvanised Fe or wood is

T. McLa c h la n. Stability of stored starch syrup. C. Lucicow (Pharm. Zentr., 1931, 72, 321—322).—Starch syrups can be stored without showing growth of fungi or fermenting provided they are pure, are not diluted with water, and are kept a t a low temp, in lac-lined drums. Tinplate may be used for the construction of the drums, but the use of galvanised Fe or wood is