288 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, 
some oxalate of lime. The alkali extract was not identified,but was 
much larger in the older specimen, and is probably of a nature allied 
to cellulose or the material forming the cells. 
The alcohol extract gives a heavy precipitate with basic lead 
acetate, organic salts, a cloudiness with mercuric nitrate, and a slight 
brown with copper acetate on boiling. The resin insoluble in water 
but soluble in alcohol is soluble in ammonia and precipitated by 
acid. To what to attribute the purging is uncertain. It may bedue 
to the acid produced by the inversion of the glucoside, to the large 
amount of mucilage and magnesia, or to the organic acids present in 
such large amounts. Dr. Carothers’s specimens, which, as he states, 
were different from Mr. Dull’s, were identified as Opuntia Engel- 
mannii. Being supplied in several stages of development of the joints 
and fruit, they furnished material for a more thorough study of the 
variations in the composition at intervals in the growth of the plant, 
as wellas for comparison of the two species and the effect of cooking. 
The joints varied in dimension and weight, in accordance with 
their age. The specimens were weighed and measured, with the fol- 
lowing results : 
Thickness. Length. | Width. | Weight 
Inches. Inches. | Inches. | Grams. 
Grow tLhronibne year mein. cielaciceis bea ele inieveisrsleleietererelstatevaielale!ar= NERS sa a aecralidegooLoooc 1500 
Growehion PreviOUs YOALS ss. sm. cclecleins eciticleetescieisiove > 75 12 9 Y511 
(Oils! Hyd0i 1 Ota thes, jadeneereses no mAsadobenieen oponocoonddadooe PAG) is -cnsdKee 5 2093 
(OIGIME RIT nae doen O Rone Steen Cee eer ee eMoo BAAN. GNS Ree Smomeersean «| (545 .0qdo5dManoosizenc 66 
\iGiRE Tinie pocedosb babes OnDGoOOEo eG Gens du ooconddor asHdode liavcteteYsra:oierdlsy shell reereeretetelara)| /arereiereee raat 49 
VOU 2S 17 18a in Agacoc sogdemoddseB pos gop eda condsqne 9300005) bacdooadsac|s< do" c0oce}agage0r os 38 
The growth of the year was much thicker and narrower than that 
of the previous year, and in consequence, as appears from the an- 
alysis, more succulent. These two samples appear not to be strictly 
comparable as representing these two stages of development. It 
would have been more desirable to have selected joints developed 
more on the same plan. The oldest fruit was ripe and purple, the 
younger just tinged, and the youngest quite green. 
The analyses resulted as follows: 
Analyses of the joints and fruit of Opuntia Engelmanni at various stages of growth. 
JOINTS. 
= 
2 , : ” Old stem 
Growth of the year. Growth of previous year. joints. 
2 ad, 
| Natural con- Natural con- Natural con- 
dition. Steamed. dition. Steamed. dition. 
| : f — 
Orig. | Dry | Orig.| Dry | Orig.| Dry | Orig.| Dry | Orig.| Dry 
sub. | sub. | sub. | sub. | sub. | sub. | sub. | sub. | sub. | sub. 
VV DUGIRS abtne Canaeee aa BME eaee SBRO0 Panes 88/00. Peeeee (SH) | epans s $0500) |-eeeeee 86500} haere 
Ma halashece cn secor ies ewrseiecne 8.27 | 23.38 | 2.18 | 18.21] 1.18 | 18.09 | 1.60] 15.98] 1.77 | 12.64 
OU OAs soon cGeeaee cece Genes | .88| 6.26] .76| 6.30 48 | 7.31 66 | 6.63 27), 3.27 
RESIN, LOLC eer accstte wisisial sie © .33 | 2.389] .24) 2.00 :14,) 2.12 30 | 2.95 46 | 1.89 
Glucoside and organic acid...| 1.05 | 7.48} 1.10] 9.19 .90 | 13.88 | 1.04 | 10.39 | 2.01 | 14.40 
Ash soluble in alcohol........ Jovoena: PB Resease [SRS6i| are teeta. 001} 2 ene: [8.98] |..-.- [4.29] 
NCI AP Osos er «chats ties 0s = | 1.92 | 13.69 | 1.45 | 12.14 HOO MO Ne a edeuld si eeO 58 | 4.14 
INS De Saou 6 ogb Co eee BoC nomeee peers [aS ieee ee [G16] Npseeree [4.19] ance [546] i\ eee (1. 75] 
C@rmdefilbenener asic cere. 1-1 Weakly vst 1.09 | 9.01 80 | 12.27 | 1.39 | 18.96 | 1.97 | 14.07 
Albuminoids..............-.. 1.16 | 8.29) 1.02] 8.46 50 | 7.81 80 | 7.95 7 5. 66 
Undetermined ............... 4,28 | 30.61 | 4.16 | 34.69 | 1.90 | 29.25 | 8.10 | 31.04 | 6.15 | 48.93 
: 100.00 |100.00 100.00 [100.00 {100.00 |100.00 |100. 00 100. 00 100.00 100. 00 
INTE O SEN ae crys serie cas ares cine oratelsiovee nb  eeeer PSB | ae. AROb al Peer 1 TES7s!| Renee 91 
‘Non-albuminoid nitrogen ....|.. .... test Asielers *. <O4 JASE ER Be} oaco ge By a eee -42 
Per cent. of nitrogen as non- 
Eb oybbeauboveyto ln Sern Sot ea amis BmENawn PSR el lara PSN les aicie iS SE201m Reeser. SOON | Sener 46.4 
