THE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY. PART I. 193 



The sugars were all determined as reducing sugars, since the time required for 

 transportation of the parts of the trunk to the laboratory was probably sufficient 

 for hydrolysis of a considerable portion of the sucrose. 



All of these samples gave negative tests for diastase. Since it was 

 noted that the base section contained sugar, the largest amount occurring 

 near the circumference with none, or traces in the center, borings were 

 taken from the circumference toward the center, in such a manner as to 

 secure a sample from the point where there was the most sugar, to one 

 where there existed no sugar and much starch, and these samples were 

 tested for a diastase with positive results. 



The following mixtures were digested at 45° to 55° and the reducing 

 sugars determined: 



I. Twenty-five cubic centimeters of a 2 per cent starch solution. 

 II. Twenty-five cubic centimeters of a 2 per cent starch solution, plus 5 grams 

 of the sample. 



III. Five grams sample 25 cubic centimeters water. 



Ten grams of the sample were extracted with water and filtered. The 

 filtrate was 100 cubic centimeters. The reducing sugars were determined 

 in this solution. 



IV. Ten cubic centimeters of this solution plus 25 cubic centimeters of starch 



solution. 



ChlorofoiTU or toluene, in some cases both, were employed to inhibit 

 the action of living organisms. 



Number II contained the largest amount of reducing sugars, num- 

 bers III and IV very small amounts, and number I practically none. 

 Similar tests were made several times under varying conditions with the 

 same results. 



These analyses point out several noteworthy conditions of the trunk 

 of the palm:. 



1. The whole trunk is saturated with water or aqueous solution which 

 has not the characteristics of the sap, since sugars are absent except in 

 the outer portion of the base. 



2. The outer portion of the base is the only place where a solution 

 resembling the sap was found. 



3. The fibrous structure of the trunk is denser at the outside than in 

 the inside. The data obtained from the chemical analyses merely cor- 

 roborate this well-known fact. 



4. The dry material of the base consists largely of starch, the amounts 

 being 21.2 per cent for the outside portion and 42.4 per cent for the 

 inside. 



