202 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



saponiflcation number 207.5, Reicliert-Meissl number 0.11, and iodin number §7.1. 

 The fatty acids gave a refractive index of 32.1, melting point 54.8°, solidifying 

 point 52.05°, acid number 211.4, average molecular weight 265.4, and iodin num- 

 ber 41.4. The unsaponifiable material was present to the extent of 0.25 per cent, 

 but phytosterol acetate could not be obtained. After purification with petroleum 

 ether and attempted recrystallization from alcohol an amorphou.s mass was 

 obtained which gave a slight Salkowski and Liebermann reaction. 



The fatty acids, separated as lead salts after repeated recrj'stallization from 

 benzol, were decomposed with hj'drochloric acid, and after repeated recrystal- 

 lization from alcohol a constant melting point of from G2.9 to 63° C. was ob- 

 tained. The neutralizing figure was 219,1 and the average molecular weight 

 256.07, essentially that of palmitic acid. The amount of solid acid present was 

 from 55 to 66 per cent. 



The refraction number of the liquid fatty acids at 40° was 40.6 and the 

 iodin number 85.7. The fat corresponded to Malabar tallow or Chinese tallow 

 from Stillingia seMfera and various varieties of the Jatrophas. 



The flower pigments of Antirrhinum majus. — I, Method of preparation, 

 MuBiEL Wheldale {Biochcm. Jour., 7 (1913), No. 1, pp. 87-9i).— The author 

 has previously (E. S. R., 25, p. 324) made suggestions as to the nature of the 

 chemical reactions involved in the formation of anthocyanin. 



The yellow coloring matters of plants are said to be present largely as glu- 

 cosids, some, or probably all, of the hydroxyl group being replaced by sugar. 

 The reactions involved in the formation of anthocyanin are represented, gener- 

 ally considered, as follows: 



Glucosid+water ^ chromogen-f sugar 



(Flavone or xanthone) 



X (Chromogen)+oxygen—> anthocyanin. 



" The first reaction may be regarded as controlled by one or more glucosid- 

 splitting enzyms and it is conceivable that si>ecific euzyms may act on hydroxyl 

 groups in different positions. When certain hydroxy! groups (position to be 

 determined) are free from sugar, oxidation may take place at these points, or 

 possibly condensation, or both, with the formation of anthocyanin. The residual 

 hydroxyl groups in the anthocyanin molecule would probably be replaced by 

 sugar, and hence the anthocyanins would occur as glucosids. There is evidence 

 that the second reaction may be brought about by an oxidase system." 



Investigations conducted for the purpose of testing the first of these hypoth- 

 eses with regard to the nature of the pigment in Antirrhinum resulted in devis- 

 ing a method for obtaining the pigment in a solid form. The pigments, dissolved 

 in water, are precipitated with solid crystalline lead acetate until no further 

 material is thrown down. Most of the supernatant liquid is decanted from the 

 precipitate after a few hours and the residue is filtered through a Buchner 

 funnel with the aid of the filter pump. The lead salts of the pigment are then 

 decomposed with 5 to 10 per cent sulphuric acid. The insoluble lead sulphate 

 is filtered off and the filtrate therefrom contains the pigments as glucosids in a 

 dilute sulphuric acid solution. The solutions are boiled for several hours 

 under a reflux condenser, which results in a hydrolysis of the glucosids and a 

 deposition of the pigments. The pigment separated by filtration is dried, after 

 washing, over sulphuric acid. 



The following varieties of Antirrhinum have been extracted: Ivory, yellow, 

 ivory tinged with magenta, magenta, crimson, rose dor§. and bronze. The 

 ivory and yellow contained in a crude pigment in association with magenta 

 was soluble in warm ether, though not readily. The ivory and yellow could 



