SOME PROPERTIES OF THE WHEAT KERNEL. 



If a number of wheat kernels of the same variety and raised under 

 simiLir conditions are separated into approximately equal parts with 

 regard to their specific gravity, the kernels of low specific gravity 

 will be found to contain a higher percentage of both total and proteid 

 nitrogen than the kernels having a high specific gravity. 



A number of samples of wheat grown in different years and repre- 

 senting different varieties were separated into approximately equal 

 parts by throwing the kernels into a solution of calcium chlorid bav- 

 ins such a densitv that about half the kernels would float and the 

 other half sink. The specific gravity of the solution in which each 

 sample was separated is given in Table 1 and the signs < and > are 

 used to represent "less than" and ''greater than/' respectively. 

 Thus '' <1.29'' means that the kernels have a specific gravity of less 

 than 1.29, while ">1.29" indicates that the kernels have a specific 

 gravity greater than 1.29. 



Table 1 . — Analyses of Tcernels of high and of low specific gravity. 



Name of variety and year of 

 growth. 



>IIickman, grown in 1895. 



Turkish Red, grown in 1897. 



\Spring wheat, Marvel, growTi 

 ) in 1897. 



jSpring wheat, Velvet Chaff 

 / grown in 1897. 



JTurkish Red, grown in 1898. 



a Proteid nitrogen in this paper = nitrogen by Stutzer's method. Proteids = proteid nitrogen x 5.7. 



With the exception of serial Nos. 30 and 31 the kernels of low 

 specific gravity have in each case a higher percentage of both total 

 and proteid nitrogen than have the kernels of high specific gravity. 

 It will also be noticed that the percentage of nonproteid nitrogen is 

 greater in the kernels of low specific gravity. 



Samples of wheat were also divided into light and heavy portions 

 by means of a machine which operates by directing upward a current 

 of air, the velocity of which can be regulated. Into tliis current the 

 grain is directed. The result is that the heavy kernels and the large 



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