24 



powders and are usually found in ground condition. When pres- 

 ent the characteristic taste and odor are of great importance as 

 an aid to diagnosis. The taste is bitter and mucilaginous and the 

 odor peculiar and characteristic. The seeds themselves are about 

 3 m.m. long and from 1.5 — 2 m.m. thick, oblong in shape and some- 

 what flattened. The ground powder is j-ellowish-brown in color, 

 but contains no starch grains. 



The palisade cells and column cells are the elements which are 

 useful in the diagnosis of fenugrec. The palisade cells are 60 — 

 75)u high and from S — 20/i wide, and the cell cavity, which is 

 very broad at the base, tapers to a point at the top of the cell. 



The cell walls are pointed at the top as a rule, but sometimes 

 blunt ended cells are found, these always being higher tha.n the 

 pointed cells. A narrow "light line" is found about 30/x from the 

 top of the cells. 



The column cells are short and broad, and are highly charac- 

 teristic; they are about 20/^ high, hour-glass shaped, very wide 

 at the base, or inner portion, the upper end being smaller. The 

 walls are ribbed, and when seen in surface view give a radiating 

 effect. The cells are varying in size, ranging from 30 — 75yu in 

 breadth. These elements are easily found in the ground prodvtct, 

 which contains fragments of the hulls. No other elements are of 

 use in the diagnosis. Fig. 15 shows the seed and the elements 

 noted above. 



PEANUT. 



{Arachis hypogaea, L.) 



Peanuts and peanut shells are used in a variety of ways as 

 foods, but it is usually in a ground condition that they find their 

 way into cattle foods. Usually the whole fruit is crushed or 

 ground, and is as a rule immature or damaged. Lately, however, 

 another form has appeared on the market which consists chiefly 

 of the radicle, and is designated as "peanut germs", but it is not 

 in general use as yet, being found only locally. 



The cells of the fibre layer of the pericarp or shell are of great 

 use in diagnosing a whole peanut product. Their shape and 

 appearance are characteristic. They are very irregular, but there 

 will always be found those of a "T" or "L" shape, which are char- 

 acteristic of the peanut and resemble true stone cells. Very often 



