CONSTITUENTS OF PLANTS 



349 



germ contains about 27 per cent, oil, which may be expressed 

 from it for commercial purposes. The ether extract of rye and 

 wheat passes mostly into the bran along with the germ. 



The percentage of ether extract in some of the different classes 

 of materials is shown in the following table : 

 ETHER EXTRACT IN PLANTS. 



Composition of Ether Extract. The composition of the ether 

 extract of some plants is contained in the following table : l 

 PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OF ETHER EXTRACT. 



Stellwaag found, according to the above table, that nearly one- 

 third of the ether extract of hay and malt sprouts is unsaponifiable 

 matter. The ether extract of rye bran, peas, potatoes, and beets 

 contain about 10 per cent, unsaponifiable matter. Over one- 

 fourth of the ether extract of peas consists of lecithin. 



According to Fraps and Rather, 2 who examined 18 hays and 

 fodders, from 39 to 71 per cent, of the ether extract consists of 

 non-fats, chiefly wax alcohols. The average percentage of non- 

 fats was 58 per cent, of the ether extract. 



1 Stellwaag, Landw. Versuchs-stat. 



2 Bulletin 150, Texas Station. 



