442 Dr. R. D. Thomson June 



couches, should regale themselves with beer from the skulls 

 of their enemies whom they had slain in battle. # 



But for these objects malting is not necessary, for even 

 in this country much spirit is made from raw grain. The 

 quantity of grain consumed in this way amounted, in 1834, 

 to 6,694,344 bushels. 



We may consider the subject, first in reference to its 

 physical nature, or the process of malting, and secondly in 

 an economical point of view, or the duty on malt.f 



I. PROCESS OP MALTING. 



Any kind of grain may be converted into malt, but in 

 this country there are three species of plants belonging to 

 the order Cereales which are peculiarly employed for this 

 purpose. These are Hordeum distichum, H. vulgare, and 

 H. hexastichon. 



1. The H. distichum is what is commonly termed barley, % 

 and is characterized by having two lateral rows of seeds 

 which are imbricate. The average length of a seed is 0*343 

 inches. Breadth 0*143 inch. Thickness 0*108 inch. 



2. H. vulgare Linn, in herb. Errh. PL Off. 421. Herb. 

 Davall. 1802, described by Lihneus as having two rows of 

 seeds more distinct, but there are two additional imperfect 

 ones, The length of a spike of average grain is 3 inches. 

 Length of a seed *375 inch. Breadth 0*16 inch. 



It is to this species that the name bigg, I believe, is more 

 peculiarly applicable. The term is one employed by the 

 country people in Scotland, who are not in general, as 

 elsewhere, very precise in their definitions, and are apt to 

 apply one term to different species. Indeed, the whole of 

 the species are often indiscriminately called bear, a mixture 

 being often sown which is termed blended bear. 



3. H. hexastichon, Linn. Spec. Plant. 125. Hort. Ups. 23. 

 This species is described by Linneus as possessing univer- 

 sally hermaphrodite flowers, with the seeds placed regularly 

 in six rows. The seeds in my specimen were in length 325 

 inch, in breadth *15 inch, and much inflated and rounded 



* Hume's History of England, i. 31. 



t See Papers presented to the House of Commons in 1799, 1804 and 1806. 



% Through the kindness of my friend Mr. Don, I have had an opportunity of 

 identifying this and the following species with the specimens in the Linnean 

 herbarium. 



