STUDIES ON FLAX RETTING. 



acid and 50 c. c. of 50% alcohol. The solution stains fatty substances red. 

 It also reacts on wax and cutin. 



B. Results of the Observation. 



1 . Cellulose. On the cross section of the stem, we applied congo red 

 and zinc chloride iodin solution. The cells and cell layers which are stained 

 with congo red are the cell- walls of the cortical parenchyma, phloem-paren- 

 chyma, epidermis and fibers. The middle lamella of the fibers are faintly 

 stained but the fiber themselves are stained more intensely than the other 

 cell- walls. 



With the zhic chloride iodin solution, the bluish violet coloration was 

 observed ou the same tissues as above. 



From the results we may conclude that the cellulose is a constituent 

 not only of the fibers, but also of the cell walls of the cortical parenchyma, 

 phloem-parenchyma and epidermis, though its quantity is very small. 



We could not observe any change of cellulose at the end of the first 

 period of the retting but in the middle or in the last period, the destructon of 

 cell- walls of the cortical parenchyma, phloem-parenchyma and epidermis was 

 noticed. On the other hand, the cellulose reaction on the fibers became more 

 intensive, with the progress of the retting period. 



2. Pectin compounds. For the study of pectin compounds, tw< > i iH-tlu >ds 

 were employed. The oue was direct examination with ruthenium red, and 

 the other was stainning with methylen blue and s; if ran in, after the dissolu- 

 tion of the cellulose with ammonium copper oxide solution. The character- 

 istic red color with ruthenium red was observed on the middle lamella of the 

 fiber ou the cell-walls of the cortical parenchyma, cambium and epidermis and 

 also on the middle thickening layer of fiber cells. Among them the middle 



lamella of fibers were stained intensely red. 



With methylen blue, the middle lamella of fibers were stained a deep 

 violet, the inner thickening layer of fibers, the cell-walls of the cortical 



