Keegan: The Chemistry of Some Common Plants. 419 
and only traces of oxalate of calcium. The ash of the leaves 
amounted to 8-6 per cent. in dry, and contained 38-9 per cent. 
soluble salts, 4:1 silica, 20-2 lime, 7-1 P20, 6-8 SO%, some iron 
and manganese, very much soluble carbonate, and traces of 
chlorine. The chemistry of this plant corresponds to some 
extent with that of its co-habitant the Marsh Cinquefoil, but, 
although the nitrogenous matter which supplies both is of the 
same nature, there is less starch in the former, and the various 
tannins and organic acids produced are essentially different. 
ST. JOHN’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). This plant belongs 
to a section of plants that in our clime are evidently not quite 
to the manner born, although some are regarded as true natives. 
Their peculiarity seems to be that a great deal of their vitality 
seems to be thrown into the stem, the leaves and other organs 
being neglected. Moreover, there is a distinct development 
of secretory canals and sacs, such as is more characteristic 
of sub-tropical organisms. On 5th August, the overground 
parts yielded a good deal of wax with a little carotin and fat 
oil; there was a considerable quantity of a tannin which 
precipitated gelatine, bromine water and tartar emetic, and 
yields a voluminous fine red phlobaphene by dilute acids— 
altogether it was similar to the tannin of ordinary tea; there 
was also a resin with no aldehydic groups, some cane-sugar, free 
phloroglucin, and phlobaphene, much mucilage, but no starch, 
oxalate of calcium, or soluble proteid. The ash contained 38-1 
soluble salts, 7-9 silica and sand, 15-2 lime, 12-1 P2O0%, 6-5 S03, 
5°5 chlorine, with a good deal of iron and manganese ;_ there 
was only a little carbonate. The plant is a very poor producer 
of starch and organic acid. There is, however, powerful 
evidence of a great production of nitrogenous matter which 
undergoes deassimilation chiefly in the direction of aromatic 
derivatives, viz., tannins, resins, and some volatile oil. Per- 
haps the most remarkable feature is the great facility with 
which the soluble carbohydrafes are converted to the elements 
which help to build up fibrous tissue, thuswise indicating a 
regular development, a profound differentiation, and a slowness 
of growth. 
An obituary notice of the late John Beddoe, M.D., F.R.S.. the well- 
known anthropologist, with portrait, appears in Man, for October. 
The Journal of Conchology for October contains an interesting paper 
on the colour and band variations and distribution of Helix nemovalis 
and H, hortensis, based largely on Yorkshire specimens, 
Mr, A. E. Lechmere has an elaborately illustrated paper on ‘ Investiga- 
tions of Methods of Reproduction in the Saprolegniacee,’ in ‘ The New 
Phytologist, Vol. X., Double Number, Nos. 5 and 6. May and June, rortr, 
Published September 30th.’ (Why not say ‘ Vol. X., No. 5, September, 
iC we) ie 
gti Dec. r. 
