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Chemical action of an electric spark in ignition of methane
826
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. F. I.
storage capacity of reservoirs is reduced, as in the case of the Colorado River (of Texas). The reservoir at Austin on this river lost more than half its capacity within ten years. Many other streams carry a silt burden fully as great as that of the Colorado. On the basins of certain of these streams, according to Mr. Ashe, the surface conditions are such that erosion can be materially reduced. On others the conditions are such that erosion can be only slightly lessened. On these it is a natural condition, the result of concentrated rainfall on surfaces naked of protective vegetation on account of irregular rainfall. There are other regions, the bulletin points out, where protection of the surface is highly efficacious in reducing erosion. It is shown that it is possible to ascertain the rate of silting which is taking place and from this to determine the capital value of the storage capacity, the loss of which might be expected within a given period. It is also possible to determine the extent to which excessive erosion may be checked by artificial means. Mr. Ashe proposes a formula for determining how much money could be economically expended to maintain this capital value, which otherwise would be destroyed by siltage. He points out that in case woods are artificially established for the purpose of securing soil cover and reducing erosion, a definite return can be expected from the investment therein, but that power and water companies are justified in making additional expenditures which would be within the capitalized, value of the storage capacity which will be preserved. In the Southern Appalachians as well as elsewhere there are alluvial lands which have been injured during floods by gullying or by the deposit of sand and gravel. Where such conditions exist there is, in the opinion of Mr. Ashe, an opportunity for the establishment of settling basins. Settling basins of the kind he proposes would not only result in the elimination of much silt from the stream, but also would bring about the rehabilitation of the devastated lands, which after being built up by deposit of the sediment would~ again be available for farming. Since this sediment as a rule consists largely of the most fertile soil eroded from the surface of the watershed, areas thus built up would be very productive. N e w N a t u r a l Base.--S.
B. SCHRYVER and H. W. BUSTON
(Proc. Royal Soc., B, 1926, lOO, 360--367) have isolated protoctine, a hitherto unknown base, from the products of hydrolysis of the proteins of oats and castor beans. It has the empirical formula CsHI~NaO~, contains one amino group, one hydroxyl group, one carboxyl group, and no alkyl groups, apparently contains a basic group similar to the iminazole ring, is readily soluble in water and in absolute alcohol, forms characteristic benzoyl, phenyl isocyanate, and phenyl .hydantoin derivatives, and yields certain characteristic color reactions, e,g., with diazobenzene sulphonic acid,, and with bromine water. J.S.H.
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. F. I.
storage capacity of reservoirs is reduced, as in the case of the Colorado River (of Texas). The reservoir at Austin on this river lost more than half its capacity within ten years. Many other streams carry a silt burden fully as great as that of the Colorado. On the basins of certain of these streams, according to Mr. Ashe, the surface conditions are such that erosion can be materially reduced. On others the conditions are such that erosion can be only slightly lessened. On these it is a natural condition, the result of concentrated rainfall on surfaces naked of protective vegetation on account of irregular rainfall. There are other regions, the bulletin points out, where protection of the surface is highly efficacious in reducing erosion. It is shown that it is possible to ascertain the rate of silting which is taking place and from this to determine the capital value of the storage capacity, the loss of which might be expected within a given period. It is also possible to determine the extent to which excessive erosion may be checked by artificial means. Mr. Ashe proposes a formula for determining how much money could be economically expended to maintain this capital value, which otherwise would be destroyed by siltage. He points out that in case woods are artificially established for the purpose of securing soil cover and reducing erosion, a definite return can be expected from the investment therein, but that power and water companies are justified in making additional expenditures which would be within the capitalized, value of the storage capacity which will be preserved. In the Southern Appalachians as well as elsewhere there are alluvial lands which have been injured during floods by gullying or by the deposit of sand and gravel. Where such conditions exist there is, in the opinion of Mr. Ashe, an opportunity for the establishment of settling basins. Settling basins of the kind he proposes would not only result in the elimination of much silt from the stream, but also would bring about the rehabilitation of the devastated lands, which after being built up by deposit of the sediment would~ again be available for farming. Since this sediment as a rule consists largely of the most fertile soil eroded from the surface of the watershed, areas thus built up would be very productive. N e w N a t u r a l Base.--S.
B. SCHRYVER and H. W. BUSTON
(Proc. Royal Soc., B, 1926, lOO, 360--367) have isolated protoctine, a hitherto unknown base, from the products of hydrolysis of the proteins of oats and castor beans. It has the empirical formula CsHI~NaO~, contains one amino group, one hydroxyl group, one carboxyl group, and no alkyl groups, apparently contains a basic group similar to the iminazole ring, is readily soluble in water and in absolute alcohol, forms characteristic benzoyl, phenyl isocyanate, and phenyl .hydantoin derivatives, and yields certain characteristic color reactions, e,g., with diazobenzene sulphonic acid,, and with bromine water. J.S.H.