nce, in animal or human nutrition, etc.

An attempt has been made to arrange the material in such a way as to
proceed from simpler chemical principles and substances to those of more
complex structures. This results in an arrangement of the groups to be
studied in an order which is quite different than their biological
significance might suggest. It is believed, however, that in the end a more
systematic understanding and a more orderly procedure is obtained in this
way than would result from the treatment of the groups in the order of
their relative biological importance.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION PAGE

Development of biological science; characteristics of protoplasm;
plant and animal life, similarities and differences; protoplasmic
activity essentially chemical changes; objects of study of the
chemistry of plant life xiii-xvi

CHAPTER I--PLANT NUTRIENTS

Definitions; the plant food elements; available and unavailable
forms; the value of the different soil elements as plant foods;
functions of the different plant food elements in plant growth;
inorganic plant toxins and stimulants; references 1-15

CHAPTER II--ORGANIC COMPONENTS OF PLANTS

Plants as synthetic agents; types of changes involved in plant
growth; groups of organic compounds found in plants; physiological
use and biological significance defined; physiological uses of
organic groups 16-20

CHAPTER III--PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Definitions; physiological steps in photosynthesis; formaldehyde,
the simplest carbohydrate structure; the condensation of
formaldehyde into sugars; theories concerning photosynthesis;
the production of starches and sugars; references 21-29

CHAPTER IV--CARBOHYDRATES

Importance, nomenclature, and classification; groups of
carbohydrates; isomeric forms of monosaccharides; chemical
constitution of monosaccharides; characteristic reactions of
hexoses; the occurrence and properties of monosaccharides;
disaccharides; trisaccharides; tetrasaccharides; the relation of
molecular configuration to biochemical properties; polysaccharides,
dextrosans, levulosans, mannosans, and g