30 



U. SUZUKI 



It is also quite important to investigate what organic base 

 is formed by the assimilation of ammonium salts. As the germi- 

 nating shoots of Coniferae produce large quantities ofarginin, 

 it is highly probable that it is the synthetical product in this 

 case. 



For isolation of the base, a powdered sample of the shoots 

 (weighing 8.8 grams) treated with ammonium chloride solu- 

 tion, was extracted with about 300 c.c. of warm water, to the 

 extract was added an excess of basic lead acetate, until no more 

 precipitate was formed, filtered, and to the clear nitrate was 

 added some sulphuric acid to remove the excess of lead ; this 

 filtrate of lead sulphate may contain bases. It was precipitated 

 with phospho-tungstic acid, the precipitate was collected on a 

 filter, washed with sulphuric acid, pressed between the filter 

 and the precipitate then decomposed with baryta, and the base 

 was crystallized as basic arginin silver nitrate, according to S. G. 

 Hedin's method. It was thus found that there is formed a toler- 

 ably large quantity of arginin silver nitrate. Its quantity was 

 found to be more than 0.4 grams, that is, more than half ot the 

 total organic bases consists ofarginin." 



presence of a little sugar and other reducing compounds in the plants interferes with the 

 reaction ; and as no other certain test could be made, I adopted the following proce- 

 dure : — The phospho-tungstic precipitate was decomposed at the ordinary temperature 

 with caustic baryta, filtered, and the baryta in the filtrate was removed by carbonic 

 acid, and filtered, the filtrate was tested for ammonia by Nessler's reagents, but 

 no colouration !; so we may be sure that no ammonia was present in the phospho-tungstic 

 precipitate. Also, the filtrate was tested for peptone by adding an excess of strong 

 caustic soda and one drop of copper sulphate ; but no violet colouration ! Therefore we 

 may conclude safely that the phospho-tungstic precipitate consisted of organic bases 

 only. 



Besides the above tests, I made also quantitative determination of ammonia (though 

 the absence of it was formerly proved !) in the following way ; — a sample of 1-2 grams 

 was warmed in 50 c.c. distilled water at 50-60 0 C. for half an hour, cooled, and after 

 cooling, basic lead acetate was added in excess, filtered, to the filtrate was added some 

 sulphuric acid to remove the dissolved lead, filtered, the filtrate was nearly neutralized 

 with dilute caustic soda and some magnesia was added until it was slightly alkaline, and 

 distilled off. I found in this way that a little ammonia always comes off, but its quantity 

 being less than 0.1% of the dry matter. I found afterwards that this ammonia comes 

 from the slight decomposition of bases and amides and was not present previously. 



* As the basic arginin silver nitrate easily undergoes reduction and changes to the 

 neutral silver nitrate salt, which is twelve times more soluble in water than the basic 

 salt, it is certain that a tolerable quantity of arginin still remains in the mother liquor. 

 We may therefore assume that almost 5 or more consists of arginin. 



