8B ■■ EEPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



7. Albuminoids (non-alkaloidal nitrogen X 6.25) 18.55 



8. Starch isomers in acid extract 14. 36 



9. Extracted by alkali and acid, not starcb or ui Irogenous 13. 46 



10. Pure cellulose 8. 67 



11. Lignose and color 1.33 



12. Asb, soluble in -water 1. 33 



Asb, soluble in acid 1. 08 



13. Moiature 8.35 



100. 04 



These seeds contained no organized starch grannies, but, after extrac- 

 tion with naphtha, chloroform, alcohol, and water, they gave an amount 

 of glucose, when boiled with dilute acid, equivalent to 14.36 per cent, of 

 starch. The red coloring matter was present in nearly all the extracts 

 in varying amounts ; it seems to be present in the seed coat, and to be 

 somewhat modified in its solubilities by the action of heat and reagents. 



The substances of principal interest in this invest! ^-ation are the fixed 

 oil and the allcaloid. The malic acid probably exists in combination 

 with the alkaloid. 



EXAlVnNATION OF THE FIXED OIL. 



A rather thin fixed oil, of a reddish-yellow color and pecuh'ar odor. 



Specific gravity .9255, compared with water at same temperature 

 (20O.5 C). 



Reaction neutral to litmus paper. 



Soluble in ether, chloroform, i)etroleuni, naphtha, and benzole; spar- 

 ingly in alcohol. 



With nitrous acid no decisive reaction for elaidin. 



Concentrated suliihuric acid dropped upon a few drops of the oil 

 causes the following changes of color : Olive-green, chocolate, red-brown, 

 purplish-brown, purple. 



Concentrated nitric acid, light-green, quickly changing to light yel- 

 lowish brown. 



Concentrated hydrochloric acid, no apparent change. 



A careful determination of the insoluble fatty acids in this oil, by the 

 method of Hebner and Angell, gave 95.G2 per cent. The greater por- 

 tion of these fatty acids seems to l>e Unoleic acid, the chief constituent of 

 the fatty acids in linseed oil. This was proven as follows : A portion 

 of the oil was saponified with alcoholic potash, the alcohol evaporated 

 and replaced by water, and the solution thus formed exactly neutralized 

 by acetic acid. A single drop of acetic acid was then added, and the 

 solution precipitated by normal acetate of lead. The i)recipitated neu- 

 tral lead soap was once washed by decantation with hot water, carefully 

 drained, and treated with pure ether, -ifearly all of the lead soap was dis- 

 solved by the ether, the liquid was filtered, and a portion of the filtrate was 

 evaporated to dryness in a tarred dish ; .741 gram of the lead soap was 

 carefully ignited with sulphuric acid ; .3100 gram of anhydrous lead sul- 

 phate was found, equiv^alent to .2159 gram of metallic lead, or 29.14 per 

 cent, of lead. 



Theory. Found. 



Lead linoleate (Ph.{C,oEi,Oi)2) 29.20 % Pb. 29,14 % Pb. 



Soluble in ether gave | 3^^^ [ % Pb. 



This oil does not seem to harden upon exposure to the air as readily 

 as does linseed oil. 



