IBIDEM. , 461 



The following is the mean of two proximate analyses of 

 saffron by G. Laube and Aldendroff, quoted by Konig: — 



Water 16'07 per cent 



Albuminoids 11*74 ,, 



Fluid oil -60 ,, 



Fat 3-22 „ 



Sugar - •• 15'33 ^, 



Non-nitrogenous extractive 44-67 „ 



Cellulose -... 4'37 ,, 



Ash 4-37 „ 



The anhydrous saffron contained nitrogen 2*24 per cent* 



and oil and fat 4"55 per cent. 



Commerce.^Sa&von is imported into Bombay from France, 

 and occasionally from China. In 1882-83, the imports were 

 226 cwts., yaluedat Rs. 4,25,124 ; in 1886-87, 268cwts.,Talued 

 at Rs. 5,50,383. Most of it is adulterated ; a sample examined 

 by Lyon (1875) gave water 9-48, organic matter 56'93, mine- 

 ral matter (chiefly carb. of lime) 33-59. This adulteration is 

 easily detected by placing a pinch of the saffron in water, 

 when the viscid substance used to make the lime adhere to it 

 dissolves, and the lime falls to the bottom of the glass. Similar 



t 



adulteration with other heavy powders has been recorded, 

 and vegetable substances, as florets of marigold and safflower, 

 fragments of petals, and fibres of grass and rush, have been 

 found. Pure saffron costs in India Bs. 20 to 22 per lb. Cash- 

 mere saffron is exported to the Punjab, where it is much used 

 as a dye, to the value of Es. 20,000 yearly. 



Pardanthus chinensis, Bot Mag, 171, Syn. liria 



chinensis, Linn., is the Balamcanda Schularmani of Eheede 

 (HoH. Mai., xi., 37), and is a common garden plant in India, 

 having flowers spotted like a leopard's skin. In Cochin-China, 

 China, and the Doons of the Himalayas it grows wild. 

 Loureiro states that the roots are used medicinally in Cochin- 

 China, and that thev have aperient and resolvent properties and 



'ify the blood of gross humors 



Cynanche. According 

 in Malabar, beinff s\\i 



.armic 



cobra 



III.— 58 t 



