4(1 
T. TADOKOltO. 
In our experiments we analysed both the control stem (not retted) and' 
the retted stem and obtained the following results : 
Table O. 
Control stem. 
Retted stem. 
Difference. 
in % of air 
dry matter. 
in % of dry 
matter. 
in % of air 
dry matter. 
in % of dry 
matter. 
in % of dry 
matter of 
control 
stem. 
Moisture 
12.89 
- 
13.89 
_ 
- 
Ash 
2.31 
2.65 
0.65 
0.75 
0.64 ' 
2.01 
Pectin 
2.64 
3.03 
2.85 
3.31 
2.82 
0.21 
Ether extracts 
1.11 
1.24 
1.22 
1.42 
1.21 
0.03 
Pentosan-free fiber.... 
52.18 
59.88 
52.79 
61.31 
52.15 
7.73 
Nitrogen-free extract. 
28.9 
32.02 
28.60 
33.21 
28.25 
3.77 
Pentosan- free fiber was determined by König’s method 1 ). 
Analysis of other constituents was made by the methods usually followed 
for plants. From the results it is seen that about 2/3 of the mineral matter 
in the original stem is lost in the retting process. Of the organic constituents, 
pentosan-free fiber and nitrogen-free extract suffer most in retting. Both of 
these groups comprise many chemical individuals. Hence in order to obtain 
a better and clearer idea about the nature of the substances changed in 
retting, we determined cellulose, pentosan, gummy substance, pectin com- 
pounds, glucose, a ad tannin in the retted stems, at different periods of 
retting. The results were calculated also on the basis of the control stem for 
the sake of better comparison. Cellulose and pectin compounds were deter- 
mined by Omelianski’s method (1. c.). Gummy substanöe was determined by 
treating the sample first with 2% ammoniacal water and then the residue was 
extracted with 5% sodium hydroxide solution and precipitated with hydro- 
chloric acid and alcohol. Pentosan, glucose and tannin were analysed by the 
usual methods. The results of the analysis are shown in the following table: 
1) — Köin g. — Zs. Unters. Nahrungsmittel., Berlin, 1. (1898) pp. 3-16. 
