16 STUDIES ON APPLES. 



hot alcohol. It was believed by the author to be essential for the 

 production of oil, though this could not be proved. 



In a second contribution a the results of successive analyses of the 

 pulp of the olives for oil are given. The percentage increased by large 

 increments, but irregularly (probably because of the small sample used- 

 three fruits) with the growth. The presence of a chlorophyll-like 

 body in the pulp was observed, becoming less in quantity as the fruit 

 approached ripeness. The proportion of pulp to pit is given. 



The third paper b discusses mannite. Determinations x>f mannite in 

 the fruit during growth are given. It was found to occur in widely 

 varying amounts up to 1.54 per cent of the dry matter. The mannite 

 and the chlorophyll-like body disappeared as the fruit" ripened and 

 seemed to be closely connected with the formation of oil. 



Upon the results of the above work, and from his own experiments 

 on the respiration of olives, Gerber c considers that he has established 

 direct proof of the transformation of sugar-like bodies, especially man- 



CO 



nite, into oils. When the respiratory quotient /^ 2 (ratio by volume 



* ^2 



of carbon dioxid produced to oxygen consumed) is greater than unity, 

 and no acids are disappearing to furnish the extra carbon dioxid by 

 breaking down (which he believes takes place in acid fruits), mannite 

 is believed to be passing over into olive oil with the evolution of water 

 and carbon dioxid. 



Roussille^ presented consecutive analyses of the leaves and fruit of 

 the olive tree during the growing season. He determined that the 

 oil did not undergo migration from the leaves to the fruit, but was 

 formed in the fruit. 



Funaro e gives a short review of previous work, noting that of De 

 Luca (see p. 15) and the paper of Harz/and concludes that the oil is 

 formed by special secreting cells containing an unknown material. 

 The author then gives his results in tabular form, which represent 

 the growth of the olive, the weight and dimensions of the fruit, the 

 moisture content of flesh and stone, and the total ether extract in flesh 

 and stone. 



Mannite was found in small quantities in fruits and leaves. Its 

 presence in fruits at the end of the growing season contradicted the 

 conclusions of De Luca, who states that it disappears as the fruit 

 increases in oil. According to Funaro this indicates that mannite prob- 

 ably has nothing to do with the formation of oil. 



This view is in accordance with conclusions reached by Hartwich 

 and Uhlmann.^ These authors considered glucose to be the material 



"Compt. rend., 1862, 55: 470. ^Landw. Versuchs-Stat., 1880, 25: 52. 



Hbid., 55: 506. /Ann. prak. Pharm., 10: 161. 



Ibid., 125:658. . ff Arch. Pharm., 1902, 240: 471. 

 . agron., 1878, 4: 230. 



