OF THE COCOANUT DURING GERMINATION 3^7 



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 nucifcra, C= 50.04, H = 5.81, ash = 

 4.45 ; from Cocos lapidea, C = 52.15, H *= 5.93, Ash = i.oo. 



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 t 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 percentage 

 data for the composition of the shell : 



Water, 

 Solids, 



Organic matter. 

 Inorganic matter, 

 Soluble in water, 

 Insoluble in HCl, 

 Ether extract. 

 Non-volatile, 

 Volatile, 



During germination 1 

 soon begins to decay. See page 351. 



* Tromp de Haas and Tollens: Chemisches Centralblatt, 2 : 359. 1895. 



t 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. 



+ Winton, Ogden and Mitchell : Report of the Connecticut Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station, 2 : 210. 1898. 



