32 Tannin in the Fruit of the Persimmon [Sept. 



themselves while at the same time flowing out with the tannln-mass, 

 and thus open out on the exposed surface. 



I have Seen somewhat more striking examples of the very local 

 escape of free tannin from cells which have swelled considerably 

 while still in the fruit, and on being placed on a slide with water 

 added, have burst. One such cell is figured which had burst, tear- 

 ing apart the two ends (fig. 28). From several different points 

 on the exposed portion of the tannin-mass variously shaped but 

 small precipitation membranes had formed. 



Such instances as these can hardly be interpreted except by 

 admitting that the escaping free tannin finds its way from the 

 inside of the tannin-mass by following some relatively easy path, 

 whatever this path may be. This conclusion flows somewhat more 

 obviously from the following instance. I have chanced to observe 

 a few cells in which there were two tannin-masses with their adjoin- 

 ing ends approximately lying in the equatorial plane of the cell. 

 From these cells there was an escape of free tannin also in the 

 equatorial plane (fig. 31). I have also noticed that there is a 

 greater tendency for the precipitation membranes to be formed 

 along the superficial furrows which are often present (figs. 32, 33). 

 These examples must, I think, mean that the furrows between 

 independent masses or contiguous lobes of the tannin-masses afford 

 paths along which the free tannin travels more readily than 

 elsewhere. 



Assuming that the spontaneous swelling of the tannin-mass 

 always occurs (though I admit that I have been able to show only 

 that this is frequently the case), the tannin-mass may pass into the 

 final condition which is best described by the adjective shrunken. 

 I speak conditionally, since I have fruits in my laboratory at the 

 moment of writing which have been Standing in open and in closed 

 vessels, protected with antiseptics and not, and in various stages of 

 drying out, and I find that this final shrinkage is not by any means 

 sure to occur. Mere exposure to rapid drying in the air causes 

 shrinkage, but not in a symmetrical manner. By this time, when 

 it does occur, the protoplasm is not only Head but much disinte- 

 grated. The form and structure of the tannin-mass in this con- 

 dition I have already described above. In this regard only one 



