136 Journal of Agricultural Research vol. xx, no. 2 



The fixed oil proved to be of the general composition of the rape oils, 

 and the quantity of the oil present, amounting to more than 40 per cent, 

 characterized the seed as a very valuable oil seed. 



On the basis of the general composition of the seed and the character 

 of the volatile oil, it is suggested that the pressed oil cake may well be 

 used as a stock feed. 



The leaves are succulent and should be of value as greens. 



The plants, which are very vigorous and apparently hardy, seem to 

 offer possibilities as a forage crop. Experiments along this line have 

 been undertaken in cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry. 



CONDENSED DESCRIPTION OF CHINESE COLZA (BRASSICA CAMPESTRIS 



CHINOLEIFERA VIEHOEVER) 



Basal or radical leaves first single, later numerous, arranged in cluster, 

 large glossy green, usually smooth, obovate or round, obovate in general 

 outline, entire or obscurely wavy, variously toothed, sometimes crenate, 

 tapering into a distinct thin petiole, which is more or less margined, 

 showing sometimes a few leaflike lobes. 



Leaves of flowering stem more or less glaucous, clasping, obovate, 

 oblong, or somewhat lanceolate acuminate; leaves of secondary stem 

 not always clasping. 



Flowers light yellow, of medium size (generally that of mustard flowers), 

 pedicels averaging well over % inch. 



Pods rather large and long, tapering into conical beak (0.4 to 0.8 inch 

 long) ; pod and beak together from 2 to 3 inches long ; from 8 to 1 2 seeds 

 in pod. 



Seeds yellow and brown, yellow greatly predominating; somewhat 

 compressed, oval, usually distinct ridge on ventral side, usually smooth 

 brown, slightly reticulated, varying in size (from 1.69 to 2.07 mm.), 

 weighing from 1.4 to 6.4 mgm. (1,000 seeds weighed 2.865 g m - an d 500 cc. 

 weighed 352 gm.). 



Seed coat. — Epidermis about 5 microns thick ; when it is moistened 

 shows no swelling, no polarization of light, or cell structure. Paren- 

 chyma almost completely compressed. Sclerenchyma (palisade cells), 

 from 15 to 31 microns high and from 8 to 15 wide, strongly thickened at 

 base and side, without pigment, inner wall smooth. Pigment layer 

 consists of one row of cells containing pigment only in brown seeds. 

 Protein layer is formed usually by one row of large cells (from 15 to 21 

 microns high and from 15 to 42 microns wide). 



Seed. — Composition averages as follows: Over 40 per cent fatty oil 

 (colza or rape oil type); about 23 per cent protein (N = 6.25); 11.5 per 

 cent reducing substances ; 4 per cent crude fiber; 0.5 per cent by hydroly- 

 sis of volatile oil consisting of crotonyl isothiocyanate. 



