503 
/ 
but wax. Its elementary composition compares with beeswax and Chinese wax—the 
latter produced by puncture of certain species of coccus—as follows: 
New wax. Beeswax. Chinese wax. 
Meliinig NOINbss3=5 2. cssee seas sss sso 78°80° 60°63° 82° 
ROTOR Nee ren SS Jo See eae eS 87. 39% 87. 80% 82. 3195 
EUVUTOO EM sista sanie eee see oes: « <cme 13. 58% 12. 67% 13.57% 
URI TEN cete aia os Leics Seisieie ye ctests cero oe 5. 038% 5. 53% 4,12% 
By saponifying with an alcoholic solution of potash a portion of the wax remains 
unattacked. This is separated from the solution by filtration through asbestos. The — 
solution agitated with ether yields a body which melts at 49°-51°5 C.; solidifies at 
- 50°-48° C., and has the following elementary composition : 
BEDED ON) esas at eae eae coca. Sei oo a coo eee ena aae hes 76. 209% 
eV CLUO OGM = <5 ares Settee (severe cia) sical SS Be a = 2 ow ee ee een te aR ret rat 12. 24% 
From the potash solution is precipitated by chlorhydric acid, an acid which melts 
at 51° to 53° C., solidifies at 50°-59° C., and has the following elementary composition : 
MOR OMe a ciate te ay ha sade icin aia at isla cio GR wa win in ceia real e aeane etc eer ie tert ae oe 77. 88% 
ERVCIROOO Mine tay Sify ne Neale ne ateerntwiacts! = ails 6 nis 40.5 = 2m, SA ee Oe er meee ate ater 125 3% 
The residue from saponification, which melts at 140°-145° C., seems to contain a 
higher proportion of carbon than the original wax, and seems to consist of several com- 
pounds. The scarcity of material prevented further investigation, but I hope to return 
to it again. 
ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN IN VEGETATION.—This has for some time 
been the subject of investigations by P. P. Deherain, and he has lately 
determined, from experiments with glucose and caustic soda, through 
which were passed currents of warm air, that considerable quantities of ni- 
trogen were absorbed. When cold air was transmitted through this mix- 
ture negativeresults were in the majority of cases obtained; but on employ- 
ment of nitrogen gas, part of it was absorbed. Mixtures of saw-dust, 
with or without slaked lime, produced results which were similar, but 
less decided. These facts will have an important bearing upon the 
value of combined nitrogen in fertilizers. 
BOTANICAL NOTES. 
By Dr. Geo. VASEY, BOTANIST: 
A POISONOUS CALIFORNIA PLANT.—Mr. O. B. Ormsby, of Bakers- 
field, California, has written to this Department respecting a plant 
known there as loco, which, he says, is quite destructive to stock, 
especially horses. He says: 
It prevails quite abundantly over an extent of one hundred and fifty square miles in 
this valley, and, I am informed, is found in other.valleys of the State, and also in Ari- 
zona. This year the army-worm and a minute insect which destroys the seeds have 
killed a great deal of it, but, if not molested, it will soon flourish to as great an ex- 
tent as ever. I think very few, if any, animals eat the loco at first from choice; but, 
as it resists the drought until other feed is scarce, they are at first starved to it, and, 
after eating it a short time, appear to prefer it to anything else. Cows are poisoned by 
it as well as horser, but it takes more of it to affect them. It is also said to poison 
sheep. As I have seen its action on the horse, the first symptom of the poisoning ap- 
parently is hallucination. When led or ridden up to some little obstruction such as a 
rail or bar lying in the road he stops short, and, if urged, leaps as though it were four 
