Germination of the Seed of the Castor-oil Plant. 383 



residue left by the ether, after being washed with water as described 

 to remove any soluble acid, was treated with weak alkali (O2 per 

 eent. NaHO) to remove fatty acid, and this alkali afterwards acidified 

 by HC1 to set free the fatty acid from the soap formed. Coincidently 

 witli each experiment, endosperms of the same age were examined 

 for glycerine. 



The following tables give the results of the experiments : 



Table I. Whole Plant examined. 



Two or three points of interest appear in this table. The gradual 

 disappearance of the oil is accompanied by a rise in the quantity of 

 fatty acid up to the fourth day. This then diminishes in turn, and 

 at the end of the period, -while still some endosperm is left, both have 



