290 



U. SUZUKI. 



The tables show that the greater part of the nitrogen in the 

 seed is present in the form of protein compounds and only a 

 very small portion in the form of non-albuminoid compounds. 



To see whether the protein of the seeds would yield theine 

 by decomposition with acids it was prepared after Ritthausen's 

 method and boiled with hydrochloric acid of the specific gravity 

 of 1. 10, with addition of some stannous chlorid for 20 hours. 

 The extract after removal of the dissolved tin showed the 



following proportion of basic nitrogen. 



Total dissolved nitrogen. 0.2250 ico.o 



Nitrogen in phospho-tungstic precipitate. 0.0900 40.0 



Nitrogen in ammonia. 0.0300 13.4 



Nitrogen in organic bases. o.o6co 26.6 



A portion of the extract was carefully tested for theine by 

 the usual method after treatment with basic acetate of lead and 

 shaking with chloroform, but no trace of it was found. 



II. Is theine found in the germinating seedlings of the tea 

 plant ? 



(1) Etiolated seedlings. 



The seeds were first soaked in water for several days and 

 kept in pure sea sand in perfect darkness at the temperature of 

 I5-30 C C. for several months. When the seedlings had reached 

 10-15 cm. and had two or three leaves, a portion (a) was 

 analysed after washing ; the rest (b) was analysed after a further 

 period of 17 days. 



Seedlings (a) freed from cotyledons had small white leaves 

 of 3-6 cm diameter, stems 6-10 cm, root 6-12 cm, dry weight=l30 

 grams. Seedlings (b) 2-3 leaves opened, stems 13-16 cm, roots 

 6-12 cm, number of seedlings 228. dry weight=21.85 grams. 

 (Dry weight of 100 seedlings = 9.58 grams). 



In 100 parts of dry matter. 



(«) (*) 



Total nitrogen. 3.95 3.49 



Albuminoid nitrogen. 1.54 1.33 



Theine nitrogen. 0.127 0.127 



Nitrogen in other forms. 2.2S 2.03 



(Theine) 0.48 0.48 

 Of 100 parts of total nitrogen. 



Total nitrogen. ico.o 100.0 



Albuminoid nitrogen. 38.9 38.1 



