556 
EXTRACTS FROM AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 
is usually longer than the leaf-stalk, naked below, scapelike, bear¬ 
ing a rather thick spike of flowers, which have the general struc¬ 
ture of the Leguminosse, of a bluish-purple color. 
CHEMICAL EXAMINATION. 
In pulverizing the leaflets, the first portion which passes 
through the sieve consists almost wholly of the fine hairs which 
sause the pubescence to the structure. These hairs seem to con¬ 
stitute about one-third of the weight and over one-half of the 
bulk of the powder. From its light and spongy structure it is 
difficult to pulverize; the dust arising during the operation is irri¬ 
tating to the mucous membrane—not from irritating principle 
residing in the plant, but from the immense quantity of broken, 
sharp-pointed hairs carried up with it. The light, fluffy character 
is remarkable, being one-tenth lighter than powdered senna. 
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION. 
The air-dried powder was subjected to a temperature of 102° 
C., until it ceased to lose weight. The powder was found by this 
process to contain 10 per cent, of moisture. It was then incin¬ 
erated in a platurium crucible, and yielded 12.01 per cent, of ash. 
The ash yielded to water 25 per cent, of soluble material, and to 
hydrochloric acid 50.6 per cent., the residue being largely silica. 
A qualitative analysis of the ash gave the following bases : CaO, 
K 2 0, MgO, A1 2 0 3 , Fe 2 0 3 ; and the following acid radicals: S0 3 , 
Cl, P 2 0 5 , Co 3 , and Si0 2 . 
The powdered drug yielded to water acidulated with hydro¬ 
chloric acid, 30.52 per cent, of extractive, the solution evidently 
containing sugar, starch, albuminoids and extractive of unknown 
composition, but containing no alkaloidal qualities. Petroleum 
ether, when percolated through the powder until the latter was 
exhausted, yielded, on evaporation, .8 per cent, of extract. The 
residue left, after treatment with petroleum ether, was exhausted 
with sulphuric ether, and the ether distilled off. This extract is 
entirely soluble in alcohol. By fusing the extract with caustic 
potash, and applying the usual test for vegetable acids, no reaction 
is obtained. The etherial extract thus obtained was 1.12 per 
cent. From the second residue an absolute alcoholic extract was 
