16 STUDIES ON APPLES. 
hot alcohol. It was believed by the author to be essential for the 
production of oil, though this could not be proved. 
In a second contribution” the results of successive analyses of the 
pulp of the olives for oil are given. The percentage increased by large 
increments, but irregularly (probably because of the small sample used— 
three fruits) with the growth. The presence of a chlorophylllike 
body in the pulp was observed, becoming less in quantity as the fruit 
approached ripeness. The proportion of pulp to pit is given. 
The third paper’ discusses mannite. Determinations of mannite in 
the fruit during growth are given. It was found to occur in widely 
varying amounts up to 1.54 per cent of the dry matter. The mannite 
and the chlorophyll-like body disappeared as the fruit ripened and 
seemed to be closely connected with the formation of oil. 
Upon the results of the above work, and from his own experiments 
on the respiration of olives, Gerber ¢ considers that he has established 
direct proof of the transformation of sugar-like bodies, especially man- 
\ 
nite, into oils. When the respiratory quotient O “(ratio by volume 
of carbon dioxid produced to oxygen consumed) is greater than unity, 
and no acids are disappearing to furnish the extra carbon dioxid by 
breaking down (which he believes takes place in acid fruits), mannite 
is believed to be passing over into olive oil with the evolution of water 
and carbon dioxid. 
Roussille% presented consecutive analyses of the leaves and fruit of 
the olive tree during the growing season. He determined that the 
oil did not undergo migration from the leaves to the fruit, but was 
formed in the fruit. 
Funaro*’ gives a short review of previous work, noting that of De 
Luca (see p. 15) and the paper of Harz,’ and concludes that the oil is 
formed by special secreting cells containing an unknown material. 
The author then gives his results in tabular form, which represent 
the growth of the olive, the weight and dimensions of the fruit, the 
moisture content of flesh and stone, and the total ether extract in flesh 
and stone. 
Mannite was found in small quantities in fruits and leaves. Its 
presence in fruits at the end of the growing season contradicted the 
conclusions of De Luca, who states that it disappears as the fruit 
increases in oil. According to Funaro this indicates that mannite prob- 
ably has nothing to do with the formation of oil. 
This view is in accordance with conclusions reached by Hartwich 
and Uhlmann.’ These authors considered @lucose to be the material 
“Compt. rend., 1862, 55: 470.  ¢ Landw. Versuchs-Stat., 1880, 25: 52. 
oT bid., 56: 506. J Ann. prak. Pharm., 19: 161. 
¢Tbid., 125: 658. 9 Arch. Pharm., 1902, 240: 471. 
d Ann. agron., 1878, 4: 230. 
LL 
