REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 134 
Analysis of canaigre. 
IN ee oo! oc Sanne om enne ew win ei wet ie Sal alain ae Trace. 
SOM WARESINE 4 = soalsou ees ceric ine ae lnc celec sic aate stem ala acta .93 
Red substance, soluble in alchol. ...... 2.22222. scecce onan 10. 48 }Soluble in alcohol. 
Red substance, soluble in water 
O11 2c eA RE Seiad wt ececsseccsoeecceees-- 10.4 lea 
FOHEO=TANTIIC. ACIC 2S- Ae teees ey Sik Ut eccoce ete cess 23. 45 Soluble in water. 
aM epeciin,, DOWN COLOGs acs mec iene cowie cooeelada see tase 6, 41 i 
PMMA TI OLOS) «2 <a ontemiaise stamis Seana se aoel =e ete 5.21 
1 STEER ORE A So 38 AR SSO A a eS es en bodes 4.78 
SO DE Ce Sseittec ts oseeteh Ges Ga Se eA sete eee 18. 00 
SGMLOSG NS {See oe kencsk cecaseassetececes codes 4,52 
Su,a8 EE eS Ae ee ee ae eee nee pee eee 4. 3¢ 
PNT) 52 oe eis out sien Goins Goals Gn iaid 5 akebie/ tues eee 11,17 
rd 
Whether this root is valuable either for tanning purposes or for 
medicinal use must be determined by actual experimentation. The re- 
sult of the analysis fails to show the presence of any substances that 
would prove injurious to leather, and the large proportion of tannic acid 
is certainly a favorable indication. In many particulars this root re- 
sembles rhubarb, and it seems probable that it may be used to advan- 
“aad in place of rhubarb, where a more astringent medicine is indi- 
cated. 
The rapid change of the fresh root from yellow to brown may be due 
to the change of yellow resin into the less soluble red-brown substances. 
EXAMINATION OF DOCKS FOR TANNIN. 
An examination of two species of our native docks, allied to the 
cafiaigre, was also made, with the following results: 
Rumex crispa: 
Tannin. in fresh root <...-. se.s<- ASE Se LU eee eae eaes 2.47 per cent. 
RanaIMyIne ding, TOOh) == so senaeeeals= dase emeidss ancid=peaeacele<===—= 5.54 per cent. 
Rumex odbtusiloba: 
SEMEN CLES TOOT ane, oe So se ee oe clas cosas ae aaa a Weiler Traces. 
‘A specimen of sumac (Rhus glabra) was received from Robert 
Horning, Onawa, Iowa, which was found to contain as follows: 
Sumac (hus glabra): 
PRAT I Trestle AVES cacao sce acomcs ceceaclacas ceca cc an cencian 15.50 per cent. 
Danie I GURL VOS sacsecue aacccoeslasteres aces saceoccceese 16. 87 per cent. 
An examination was also made of the pods of the Balsamocarpon 
brevifolium (“Algarrobo or Algarrobilla”), a plant growing in Peru, 
the seed pods of which are said to contain over 60 per cent. of tannic 
acid. Analysis showed a somewhat smailer amount than that men- 
tioned, but about 20 per cent. of gum, and a little resin. 
This substance seems well adapted for the manufacture of ink, for 
which purpose it is said to be extensively used, but it hardly appears 
possible that it should add very greatly to the commercial supply of 
tannin. 
THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREFULLY SELECTED SEED. 
There is no one perhaps disposed to doubt the superiority of good 
seed to poor or even ordinary seed. Indeed, repeated experiments 
