1887] Comparative Chemistry of Higher and Lower Plants. 727 
3. The location as predominant of some one or associated 
compounds only in certain plants on similar evolutionary planes. 
These three conditions correspond to what was stated at the 
beginning, that a law of universal progression may be traced 
wherever matter or force exists. 
` Tiftreis no absolutely certain knowledge of the precise character 
of the chemical changes which these plant compounds undergo, 
though we have some information about them. Investigations 
are being vigorously pushed in this department of plant-life, and 
it may be reasonably inferred that definite facts will be obtained 
on many of these subjects. 
It would seem from the latest researches that the albuminous 
or proteid compounds to which: life is essentially linked are 
ed from a compound containing nitrogen, called an amide, | 
and some carbo-hydrate; its sulphur and phosphorus supply 
being derived from inorganic sources. This amide is probably 
asparagine or a related body. Various suggestions have been 
offered to explain its formation in the plant, from the breaking 
down of protoplasm to its construction from simple nitrogenous 
and carbon compounds, and among the latest investigations, 
the results show that the formation of asparagine is independent 
of carbo-hydrates, and that the amide formed is not a by-product 
of the interchange of matter within the plant. The author of 
these experiments considers that asparagine is formed by the 
_ WMoñ of inorganic nitrogen compounds and malic acid within 
_ the plant, the acid being derived from the carbo-hydrates. 
7 Other nitrogenous compounds, as the alkaloids, for example, 
; are probably formed from the complex albuminoids, and in fungus 
: plants which are especially rich in nitrogenous compounds alka- 
' sare common. ; ; 
S It has been generally held that alkaloids with resins and some 
: her compounds occurring in plants are waste products, but 
p Sannot be accepted as final. The researches? of Selmi, 
Gautier, Etard, Brieger, and others have broken down an imagin- 
ey distinction between plants and animals which is of in- 
terest in this connection. They show that the production of 
Uk tül 
Jassy Landw. Versuch. Stat., 1886, 326-335; Jour. Chem. Soc., p. 70, 
1 FS J a | 
et gee @origine Animale, Par Dr. L. Huhowneng, Paris; Chem. News, 
E 
