J. V. Eyre axd E. A. Fisher 



125 



The method employed in estimating the oil content was the ordinary 

 ether extraction method and requires but a brief description. Each 

 sample of seed was carefully examined and only sound seeds were used 

 in the estimation. Damaged or otherwise unsound seeds were rejected 

 as was also adventitious matter such as weed-seeds, chaff, etc. About 



Table I. Showing Oil Content of Enylinh grown and Imported Linseed. 



Note. The amount of moisture present in the seeds was not determined but an 

 examination of many published figures showed this to be never less than 5-5 % nor above 

 11 % ; while in by far the greater number of oases the amount was between 7 % and 9 %. 

 The variations seem to be largely due to climatic conditions ; the liotter the climate the 

 smaller the moisture content. 



On the other hand, the constancy in the water content of linseed grown in different 

 parts of the same country under roughly comparable climatic conditions is really re- 

 markable. Leather gives the following for Indian varieties : 



Punjab 7-60 % (Average of 10 samples) 



Central Provinces 6-73 % ( „ 21 „ ) 



Bombay Presidency 6-81 % ( „ 7 „ ) 



Madras Presidency 6-72 % ( „ 5 „ ) 



In view of these facts it seemed to us redundant to estimate systematicaUy the moisture 

 present in the seeds we have used because such small variations could not mask (and in 

 some cases would tend rather to increase) the difference in oil content indicated in the 

 table. 



