In connection with the experiments described in the foregoing paper the opportunity was taken of determining the digestibility of a proprietary product suggested for use as a feeding-stuff, which was made by subjecting finely-shredded peat moss to the action of hydrochloric acid gas, and subsequently expelling the latter from the residual product. By this treatment appreciable quantities of reducing sugars are produced in the peat moss, amounting in some cases, it is claimed, to 15 or even 20 per cent.

Although during the last few years a good deal of work has been done on the soil protozoa, very little is known as yet as to their mode of life, behaviour and relations with the other soil organisms; so much is this the case that even the fact that they lead a trophic life in soil is often disputed. Since Russell and Hutchinson(16, 17) in their work on the partial sterilisation of soil first discussed the possible relations existing between the soil protozoa and bacteria, the question of the activity of protozoa in soil has become important. They found that partial sterilisation brought about an improvement in the soil as a medium for the growth of bacteria by the removal of a limiting factor, and further they showed that this limiting factor possessed many of the characteristics of a living organism.

It has been shown that an important part of the ripening process of cheeses consists in the proteolysis of the cheese proteins, and it therefore seemed probable that by the estimation of the extent of this proteolysis a knowledge of the degree of ripeness of a cheese might be obtained. Although the ripeness of a cheese is a very important factor commercially, at present purely empirical methods of judgment are in use.

(1) Current literature has been cited to support the view that the country of origin of Red Clover has a very important bearing on the suitability of the seed for crop production in any particular locality; it is therefore a matter that should be considered of just as much and perhaps more importance, than germination and purity. There seems to be little doubt but that, generally speaking, locally grown seed or at least seed harvested in countries no warmer or but little warmer than the district where the seed is to be sown, is likely to produce plants which will “stand” the longest and in many instances produce the heaviest hay crops in the first year after sowing.

1. The relationship between chemical constitution and toxicity to wireworms of organic compounds is found to be of a twofold nature.

2. The general effect of a group of compounds of the same type is directly determined by the chemical constitution of the type. The particular effects of individual members of the groups are limited by their physical properties such as volatility etc., which may be regarded as indirect consequences of their chemical constitution.

3. The aromatic hydrocarbons and halides are on the whole more toxic than the aliphatic hydrocarbons and halides. The groups that influence toxicity most when introduced singly into the benzene ring are in order of importance the methylamido (most effective), dimethylamido, hydroxy, nitro, amido, iodine, bromine, chlorine, methyl groups (least effective). But this order is modified in presence of another group; thus when there is a CH3 already present in the ring the order becomes chlorine (side chain), amido, hydroxy, chlorine (ring), methyl. Chlorine and hydroxy groups together give rise to highly poisonous substances considerably more effective than where present separately. The association of chlorine and nitro groups in chloropicrin gives rise to one of the most toxic substances tested. Methyl groups substituted in the amido group of aniline increase toxicity more than if substituted in the ring.