348 [Senate 



As however, in the milling, nearly one-sixth of the cotyledon still 

 adheres to the grain, for all practical estimates, it will be nearer the 

 truth to state the mineral ingredients of clean rice at 2 per cent those 

 of the whole crop, and to diminish therefore, the residuum of the 

 cotyledon and epidermis by 0.06 per cent, making the percentage 

 statement to stand thus ; 



Stubble and root, 36 . 08 



Straw and leaves, .... ...... ...... . 36 . 08 



Husk, 14.20 



Cotyledon and epidermis, 1 1 . 64 



Clean rice, (commercial) 2 .00 



100.00* 



[9.] If the foregoing views are correct, it becomes plain, at, a 

 Balance, that the planter who sells his crop in the condition of rough- 

 rice, robs his lands of 27.84 per cent of the mineral ingredients of 

 this species of produce ; while on the other hand, he who sells it as 

 clean rice, subtracts from them but 2 per cent, of these ingredients. 



But the true value of these constituents cannot be rightly estimated 

 by their numerical proportions, since the mineral ingredients of the 

 cotyledon and epidermis consist of above 50 per cent of the most 

 precious saline substances, while in those of the stubble, root and 

 husk, the like constituents scarcely rise to 10 per cent. 



[10.] From the extreme slowness with which the husk suffers con- 

 version into humus, unless fermented with stable litter, this portion of 

 the rice-plant appears to be almost wholly neglected by the planter. 

 But as it contains above 30 per cent of carbon, it must be capable, 

 when incorporated with the soil, of performing to a considerable ex- 

 tent the functions of humus, i. e. of gradually giving rise to car- 

 bonic acid from combining with the oxygen of the air, and of raising 

 the temperature of the soil by its eremacausis, or slow combustion. 

 Besides, its minutely divided silica is in a more favor ablecondition 

 for absorption by the rootlets of plants, than that which is offered to 

 them by the soil itself. We may add to these supposed useful prop- 

 erties of the husk, the mechanical service which in certain stiff, com- 

 pact land it is capable of exerting, by keeping the ground open to the 

 access of air, and as an absorbent of moisture. As it is unlike to the 

 stalk and leaf, in not containing alkali, it might perhaps be found 

 advantageous to add wood ashes along with it to the soils on which it 

 is applied. 



• It may be useful to present here, also, a per centum view of the incombustible constitu- 

 ents of the rough -rice. 



Husk, 51 .00 



Cotyledon and epidermis, 41.81 



Clean rice, 7. 19 



It scarcely need to be stated, that the cotyledon and epidermis are found in the coarse 

 rice flour, intermingled largely with the husk, and with from three to four per cent of 

 powdered clean rice. The cotyledon and the epidermis are richer than the clean rice in 

 saccharine matter and gluten, which materially augment the value of rice flour as a feed 

 for cattle and swine. These principles are thus returned to the soil under the most favora- 

 ble conditions for agriculture. 



