38 REPORT ON A BOTANICAL TOUR IN KASHMIR, 1893. 
13, states that the annual shoots of this plant yield a fibre, from 
which the Turcomans to the east of Bokhard prepare twine and 
ropes, and that the bark of the underground stems is employed in 
tanning, and for the preparation of skins intended for holding 
v^^ter. 
Arenaria holosteoides^ Edgew.— A common weed in wheat-fields 
in Baltistdn, It is eaten as a vegetable. 
Artemisia maritimay Zr.— A characteristic plant of Baltistdn 
and of the valleys in the Gilgit district. In the Bulletin of the 
Royal Gardens, Kew, for June 1893, there is a notice of this plant un- 
der the heading of Wormwood as a Fodder Plant,” together with 
a report by Professor A. H. Church, F. R.S., on a chemical analysis 
undertaken by him of a sample which I collected in the Astor valley 
in 1892. The following is his report : — 
“ I have submitted the sample to analysis, mixing the material 
together as uniformly as possible. The harsh, woody texture of the 
‘ plant and its powerful but sickly odour would not commend its use 
“ as the chief ingredient in horse fodder ; but its chemical composition 
“turns out more favourable than 1 expected. I think it is extremely 
“probable that the aroma of this plant is chiefiy due, like that of 
“common wormwood, to absinthol (Cjq Hjg O ), a liquid isomer of 
“ camphor. But a bitter principle called ahsinthin (C40 Hgg O9), which 
“is found in Artemisia Absinthiumy has the smell of wormwood 
“and may be present in the present plant; to separate it and identify 
“ it would, however, require a large quantity of material. 
“Percentage composition of Artemisia maritima — 
Water , . . . . . . . 13*6 
Oi), resin, wax, etc. . • . • . 4*0 
Starch, sugar, gum, etc. (by difference) . . 34*2 
Albuminoids (true) ..... 6-o 
Fibre 339 
Ash (includes 27 of sand and mica) . , 8*3 
It should be mentioned that the 4 per cent, set down as oil, 
“ resin, wax, etc., consists of the matters extracted by ether, of 
“ which it was found that three-fourths were soluble also in very 
“ strong alcohol, and were consequently for the most part resinoid 
“and aromatic compounds. The albuminoids were determined by the 
“ phenol method : had they been calculated fro the total nitrogen 
“found, they would have appeared higher (8 per cent ). 
“ This plant contains rather less albuminoids, less digestible 
carbohydrates and more fibre than the average hay of mixed grasses. 
