162 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Animal rei)ort of the Royal Sericultural Station, Padua (Ann. R. Sta::. 

 Jiacal. J'adora, JJ ( lUill), iip. I'/li, i>l. I). — In tins report the dh-ector, K. Verson, 

 reviews the work of the station for the year 1900-7, and pri-seiits a furtlier 

 study of the j?lands of the silkworm. E. Qnajat presents a study made of the 

 influence of high temperature on the eggs of silkworms, and E. Bisson reports 

 on a study of the influence of external conditions in rearing upon the physical 

 condition of the cocoon. Mulberry culture in southern and insular Italy is also 

 considered by E. Quajat. Experiments on the relative quantity of foliage re- 

 quired by pure-bred silkworms and crosses are reported by P. Tomaselli and 

 G. Manolescu. A list, compiled by E. Bisson, of publications pertaining to 

 sericulture, i)ublislied during IDOG-T, is appended. 



FOODS— HUMAN NUTRITION. 



Chemical studies of American barleys and malts, J. A. Le Clerc and R. 

 Waiil (U. S. Dcpt. Aijr., Bur. Clicin. Bui. 12), pp. 7J, pi. 1). — This study of the 

 composition of American-grown barleys and malts was undertaken to ascertain 

 the relative value for alcohol production and for brewing of tlie ordinary 6-row 

 and 2-row varieties produced in different regions of the United .States. The 

 studies of the barleys and corresponding malts also afforded an opportunity to 

 investigate chemically and physically the changes taking place during the 

 malting of barley. 



According to the experimental data reported, " the 2-row barleys are some- 

 what richer in starch, extract, bran, and endosperm, have a higher bushel and 

 1,000-grain weight, and a higher coefficient of mealiness and degree of dissolu- 

 tion than the 6-row varieties. On the other hand, the 2-row variety contains 

 less protein, fiber, pentosans, hulls, sulphur, embryo, and steely grains than the 

 (i-row. The Bay Brewing barleys have a higher bushel and 1,000-grain weight 

 than the ordinary 6-row barley, but less protein. The Utah Winter barleys 

 have the most endosperm and contain the most starch, yield the most extract, 

 have the highest coefficient of mealiness and degree of dissolution, and contain 

 the le;;st protein. 



"The 6-row barley malts contain the highest percentage of protein, lecithin, 

 soluble protein, and embryo, but are lowest in starch, extract (in coarse grist), 

 bran, weight per bushel, and weight per 1,000 grains. 



"The 2-i'ow barley malts are highest in weight per bushel, extract, and coeffi- 

 cient of mealiness, but lowest in fiber, pentosans, hulls, and embryo. 



" The Bay Brewing and Utah Winter barley malts are highest in starch, hulls, 

 and weight per 1,000 grains, and lowest in protein, soluble protein, endosperm,, 

 extract (fine grist), and coefficient of mealiness. 



" It has been shown that large kernels yield a higher percentage of extract 

 than small kernels of the same protein content. The former contain more 

 starch, weigh more per bushel, and give a higher coefficient of mealiness. The 

 heavier kernels average less in protein content and contain more starch. The 

 small grains of the same variety contain more bran, hulls, fiber, pentosans, and 

 ash than do the larger grains. When barleys are divided into two groups — those 

 of high and low protein content — the former are richer in fiber, pentosans, hulls, 

 bran, and embryo; the latter weigh more per bushel and per 1,000 grains, and 

 have more mealy grains after steeping, besides containing more extract, starch, 

 and soluble [)rotein. 



" Mealy grains are generally lower in protein content. The permanently 

 steely grains are richer in protein. A high phosphoric acid content is generally 

 accompanie<l by liigh starch and low protein. A larger proportion of the protein 

 of low-protein barley is soluble than of the high-protein bai'ley. The average 



