434 



Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xxn, no. a 



ASH OF THE AWNS 



The awns of barley contain a very high proportion of ash. One of the 

 most finely divided carbons known has been secured from barley awns. 

 This extremely fine division is probably caused by the high percentage of 

 ash. The ash is deposited during the time the kernel is developing. At the 

 time of their emergence the awns contain little ash and are very flexible. 



FlQ. I.— Percentage of ash, by progressive three-daj' averages, in the awns of Hannchen barley grown on 

 plots variously irrigated at Aberdeen, Idaho, in 191 7. 



The ash at flowering time and for a few days immediately following 

 usually runs from 4 to 8 per cent of the dry matter. As may be seen 

 in Table I, the awns of the Hannchen variety may sometimes contain a 

 slightly higher percentage at flowering time. Varieties of this type, how- 

 ever, contain more ash than do those of most other types of barley. The 

 increase in the ash content after flowering is very regular. The daily 



