434 ON THE FARINACEOUS PRODUCTS 
basis.” Decandalle remarks, that, ‘‘ while gum 
itself may be considered the nutrient principle of 
vegetation, diffused freely through the structure 
of the plant, and constantly in action, starch is 
apparently the same substance stored up in such 
a manner as not to be readily soluble in the 
circulating fluids,” thus forming a reservoir of 
nutritious matter, which is to be consumed, like 
the fat of animals (which it clearly resembles in 
structure) in supporting the plant at particular 
periods. (Carpenter and Prout.) 
The identity of lignin with starch and gum 
may also be stated. ‘ Lignin may be converted 
into a substance resembling gum, by admixture 
with strong sulphuric acid, and on boiling the 
liquid for some time, the gum disappears, and a 
saccharine principle is generated.” (Carp. Phys.) 
‘¢ Both starch and wood can, by different artificial 
processes, be converted either into sugar or into 
vinegar.” (Prout, Bridg. Treat.) Starch is also 
converted into sugar during the progress of 
germination. Hempen cloth may be converted 
into sugar by the action of sulphuric acid, its 
chief constituent being lignin. 
The constitution of the inorganic portion of 
