-OF THE COCOANUT DURING GERMINATION 347 
Nitrogen was detected in small amount in the powders which 
had not been treated with alkali. The alkaline extracts contained 
substance, precipitable by acetic acid, with the following percentage 
composition: From Cocos nucifera, C = 50.04, H = 5.81, ash = 
4.45 ; from Cocos lapidea, C = 52.15, H = 5.93, Ash = 1.00. 
Tromp de Haas and Tollens * were able to show the presence 
of a large amount of pentosane (xylan) in the endocarp, the pow- 
dered material yielding an abundance of xylose on hydration in 4 
per cent. sulphuric acid. Mannose was absent from the acid solu- 
tion from which the xylose had been crystallized. After xylan 
had been completely removed from the shell-powder by the above 
method, dextrose was derived from the residue on treatment with 
Sulphuric acid in the usual manner. 
In his very complete histological studies of the cocoanut, Win- 
ton} recently called attention to the fact that both the husk and 
shell contain a brown substance which is quickly changed to a red- 
dish color by caustic potash, but is unaffected by alcohol, ether or 
any of the specific reagents for proteids, fats or resins. He also 
states that no immediate effect is produced by ferric chloride solu- 
tion, but on long standing the color is changed to olive green. 
-Winton has pointed out the presence of minute silicious bodies 
among the fibers of the husk. 
Winton, Ogden and Mitchell { give the following ee 
data for the composition of the shell : 
Water, 7.36 Alcohol extract, 1.12 
Solids, 92.64 Reducing matters calculated as 
Organic matter, 99.46 starch, 20.88 
Inorganic matter, ~ 0.54 Starch, 0.73 
Soluble in water, 0.50 Crude fiber, 56.19 
Insoluble in HCl, 0.00 Nitrogen, 0.18 
Ether extract, 0.25 Albuminoid (N < 6 25), Ets 
Non-volatile, 0.25 Quercitannic acid, 1.82 
Volatile, 0.00 
During germination the shell remains unaltered. The husk 
Soon begins to decay. See page 351. 
ea 
* Tromp de Haas and Tollens: Chemisches Centralblatt, 2: 359. 1895. 
Tt Winton: American Journal of Science, IV. 12: 265. 1901, Facts are also 
given regarding the use of powdered cocoa-shell and the husk as adulterants of ground 
Spices, 
t Winton, Ogden and Mitchell: Report of the Connecticut Agricultural Experi- 
ea Station, 2: 210. 1808. 
