CHAPTER XII 



THE HOMOLOGIES OF FRUITS AS REVEALED IN THE 

 DRYING PROCESS 



THIS chapter is concerned principally with the story of the 

 drying fruit, or rather with the indications that it supplies. 

 Here again it is to the balance that we look for our data, and 

 it will be seen that the results obtained are of some interest 

 and often unexpected in their significance. Without further 

 introductory remarks I will at once plunge into the middle of 

 my subject. 



Indications It is very suggestive that two such different-looking fruits 



trastbetween as those of Barringtonia speciosa and Ribes Grossularia (Goose- 

 the berries of berry), both of which are characterised by the systematic 



Barringtoma ' ** . . ' 11 



speciosa and botanist as berries, give off when allowed to dry naturally in 

 Grossularia the air the same amount of water, losing in each case about 

 ^5 P er cent ' ^ ^ Gir we ^g nt m the ripe condition. The one, a 

 large fruit 8000 to 9000 grains in weight, is described as 

 corticate and fibrous, whilst the other, weighing about 100 

 grains, is described as succulent and pulpy. Even if the air- 

 dried fruits of both plants were subsequently exposed in the 

 oven to a temperature of 100 C., the relative weight of the 

 water-free residues would not differ greatly in amount, that of 

 the Gooseberry being probably about 10 per cent., and that of 

 Barringtonia speciosa about 13 or 14 per cent, of the moist 

 fruit. For details of the experiments on the Gooseberry see 

 Note 10 of the Appendix. 



When comparing two such different-looking kinds of 



258 



