Notes on Shepherdia Canadensis. 363 
Nevertheless, we should hardly care to use the jam in large 
quantity, unless all other material failed. 
The dried berries also sent by Dr. Wade, were found to 
be very sticky and formed a compact mass. They closely 
resemble dried currants, though much more sticky. The 
mass contained leaves of the same plant and small frag- 
ments of straw; otherwise the material was very clean. To 
the taste, the berries are sweetish and acid like a currant,— 
the bitter taste being again most pronounced. 
As we have been unable to find an analysis of these ber- 
ries, we have, through the kind assistance of Dr. Harring- 
ton, made determinations of the bitter principle or saponin 
with the following result :— 
Water in air dried berries at 100° C = 23°46 p.c. 
Saponin in berries dried at 100° C = 0°74 p.c. 
‘ Both the bitter quality and saponification depend upon 
the saponin, which, though present in rather small quantity, 
is still ample to give an abundant froth, as copious saponiti- 
cation will occur with only 0.10 p. c.' 
The Shepherdia Canadensis is very widely distributed 
through Canada from New Brunswick to British Columbia, 
although it is nowhere locally abundant. Its congener the 
Buffalo-berry (Shepherdia argentea), possesses similar pro- 
perties, but is much more restricted in its distribution, 
occurring only in the Northwest, where its centre of distri- 
bution is found in the valley of the South Saskatchewan, 
extending thence along the tributary and adjacent streams. 
' Wittstein. Org. Constit. of Plants, p. 201. 
