»OTASrlCAL GONSIDEKATIONS. 2jJ 



'and the embryo. The data relating to the analysis of. the 

 tsntire seed are not sufficiently accurate for any positive 

 scientific conclusion. Herewith, however, is the analy- 

 sis of seed without the exterior testa, as all the in^er 

 layer of the testa could not be separated or removed: 

 Total nitrogen, 4.32 per cent.; nitrogen in the shape of 

 albumen, 3.85 per cent.; fatty substances (not includ- 

 ing lecithin), 20.02 per cent.; lecithin, 0.46 per cent.; 

 cellulose, 2.31 per cent.; pentosane, 2.26 per cent,; 

 itarch, 37.31 per cent.; ash, 3.52 per cenr. Composition 

 of ash; potassium monoxide, 20.14 per cent.; sodic 

 monoxide, 8.01 per cent.; magnesia monoxide, 

 1 1.2 per cent.; calcic oxide, 3.83 per cent.; ferric oxide, 

 0.47 per cent.: phosphoric acid, 43.27 per cent.; anliy- 

 drous sulphuric acid, 9.02 per cent.; silicic acid, 2.8 

 per cent. 



The localization of the reserve food is as follows: 

 Albuminoids are in the embryo, in quantities that may 

 reach 24 per cent.; these same substances, but in inac- 

 tive form, become soluble during germination, owing 

 to the influence of enzymes. According to Neumeis- 

 ter, this ferment has the same reaction as animal pep- 

 sin, when in a slightly acidulated solution and in the 

 presence of organic acids. The enzymes can, never be 

 found on seed during germination. The fatty matter 

 contained in beet seed is an oily substance. It is found 

 not only in the embryo, but also in the perisperm (albu- 

 men) and has very important physiological functions 

 to fulfill during germination, as it is energetically con- 

 sumed under the influence of the enzymes, and thus 

 helps the formation of new and living molecules. 



The plantlets, during germination, when reaching 

 the first stage of development, contain only 1.6 per 

 cent, of fatty substances (not including lecithin and 

 cholesterin), while the quantity in the inactive primi- 

 tive seed is 20 per cent. It has been determined by the 

 thorough investigation of years previous that the leci- 



