412 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



extension of the phosphatid curve and that of fats in the ovule. The phosphatids 

 linger in the developing ovule until August 14, but their relative importance ^ 

 insignificant after the fruit has changed from a limpid liquid to a jelly. This is 

 the case with the seed coat also, except that their importance seems to be nil 

 after the June 28 sample. It will be seen that the early life of the ovule is 

 conditioned by the presence of a relatively large content of potassium, which 

 becomes less and less important as the fruit advances toward maturity, but even 

 on September 4 there is a content equal to 0.18 per cent of the total solids. 



" The nature of the tissue of the seed coat is such that it is either not pene- 

 trable by tannin or contains substances that disrupt the tannin molecule into 

 fragments that under one form or another are able to penetrate the tissue. 

 The line of limitation of tannin penetration in the seed coat is so clearly marked, 

 and yet the premises for a definite conclusion are so fragmentary, that this fea- 

 ture of the physiology of the plant life deserves a special study before one 

 should speak finally in reference to the role that fats and tannins play with ref- 

 erence to one another." 



Zyg-adenin. — The crystalline alkaloid of Zyg'adenus intermedius, F, W. 

 Heyl, F. E. Hefner, and S. K. Loy (Jour. Amer. Ghem. Soc, 35 (1918), No. S, 

 pp. 258-262, figs. 2). — This has been adequately noted from another source 

 (E. S. R., 28, p. 506). 



Zygadenin. — The crystalline alkaloid of Zyg-adenus intermedius, S. K. 

 Lot, F. W. Heyl. and F. E. Hefner (Wyoming Sta. Bui. 101, pp. 91-98, figs. 

 2). — A reprint of the above article. 



Some constituents of the leaves of Zygadenus intermedius, III, F. W. 

 Heyl and F. E. Hefner {Jour. A7ner. Chem. Soc, 35 {1913), No. 6, pp. 803- 

 811; abs. in Science, n. ser., 37 {1913), No. 951, pp. 678, 679).— Since poisonous 

 properties have been ascribed to the resin Z. venenosus by Tyrode, the investi- 

 gation was extended to the search for toxic resins in Z. intermedius. No toxic 

 substance was isolated, although an extensive investigation was made with the 

 plant with the methods elaborated in the Wellcome Research Laboratories of 

 Loudon. Some physiological tests were also made with the resin upon dogs 

 by Mendel of Yale University, which showed that the resin was nontoxic. 



From an ether solution of the tartaric acid fraction of the resin a yellow 

 crystalline substance wa« obtained, which melted at 317 to 318° C. with decom- 

 position and corresponded in its properties to quercitin. An alkaloid was noted 

 in extracts from the tartaric acid solution in this investigation, but the product 

 obtained could not be made to crystallize. Physiologically it did not show any 

 marked toxic properties when 0.1 gm. was given subcutaneously to guinea pigs. 



Other substances isolated were dextrose, phytosterol, a hydrocarbon hentria- 

 contane, oleic and linoleic acid, and isolinoleic acid. In the ether extract of the 

 resin a neutral substance was found but to which no formula could be assigned. 

 In this fraction a polyhydric alcohol similar to ipuranol was noted. 



Analyses of the ash constituents present in the plant are given. For pre- 

 vious work see above. 



Estimation of potassium in potassium silicate, E. Wilke-Dorfurt {Ztschr. 

 Analyt. Chem., 51 {1912), No. 12, pp. 755-760; ahs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 

 102 {1912), No. 602, II, p. 1211). — "For the estimation of potassium in com- 

 mercial potassium silicate (* phonolith ') the original Lawrence Smith method 

 (ignition with calcium carbonate and ammonium chlorid, boiling the mass with 

 water, etc.) is recommended. Verwey's modification of this process, which 

 dispenses with the removal of the calcium before proceeding to the separation 

 with platinum, gives results largely in excess of the truth." 



Micro-chemical detection of juglone in walnuts (Juglans regia), O. Tun- 

 MANN {Pharm. Zentralhalle, 53 {1912), No. 36, pp. 1005-1010, figs. 5; ahs. in 



