188 A. J. Ewart: 



investigation. For it to be able to act as a polynieriser in the- 

 plant, it must act in ferment fashion without itself being altered 

 or brought permanently into different combination. That is the 

 polymerising action must differ widely from that of alkalies on for- 

 maldehyde and its polymers. 



(8) If photosynthesis involves an actual combination of chloro- 

 phyll and carbon dioxide, which combination is distintegrated by 

 light into chlorophyll and carbohydrate, hexoses would, be formed 

 as readily directly as through the intervention of biose and the 

 chlorophyll would act as a lytase or carboxidase enzyme.* Its mode- 

 of action in producing glycollic aldehyde would also be that of ant 

 enzyme. 



* Proc. Royal Soc. of Vict. 1918, Vol. xxx. p. 208. 



