lo June, 1909.] Delayed Germination of Certain Sorts of Barley. 383 



back ' of germination as instanced in vour Victorian barley. My results 

 when germinating in sand in a Coldar's germinator at a. temperature of 75 

 deg. F. show a germination of 82 per cent., most of the corns showing 

 a strong growth both of roots and plumules. Under similar conditions of 

 germination at 56 deg. F. 90 per cent, have germinated and grown 

 strongly, but of course more slowly than at the warmer temperature. On 

 the other hand, after steeping the barley in water under ordinary malting 

 conditions, subsequently only 29 per cent, showed signs of germination at 

 a temperature of 56 deg. F. Again, alternately steeping the grain in 

 water combined with very free aeration caused 60 per cent, to germinate 

 at 56 deg. F. 



" I am inclined to think that for some very obscure reason the grains 

 axe peculiarly liable to being drowned when in steep. In the sand ger- 

 minators in which the dry grain is merely covered with wet sand, so that 

 water absorption and aeration go hand in hand the results of germination 

 are fairly good, and with intermittent steeping and aeration the results 

 also appear distinctly better than under ordinary conditions of steeping. 

 Combined .steeping and aeration is being largely employed bv Continental 

 maltsters now, and to some extent by maltsters in this country (England). 

 With average barleys it always tends to hearten germination very much 

 and as an experiment I am inclined to recommend such a method with the 

 Victorian barley. I should propose to steep the barley for say 8 hours, 

 run off the water, and if possible throw the barley into another cistern, or 

 at least turn it, and allow it to remain exposed to aeration for 8 hours, 

 subsequently steep again for 8 hours and repeat as before the aeration. 

 Continue until the barley is sufficiently steeped, when probably those corns 

 which are going to germinate will already shows signs of growth. 



" Obviously, from the results of some of my experiments the majority 

 of the corns are alive and capable of vigorous germination and I think 

 .some modification of the aeration system is the most likely method to start 

 their growth. The whole question is a very interesting one and I should 

 like to know further about vour experiences." 



Apparently therefore the grain received in England at the end of 

 March had improved somewhat in its germination capacity. Thus under 

 ordinary malting conditions the germination had risen from 10 to 29 per 

 cent., and in the germinators had risen from 46, 65 or 69 per cent, to 82 

 or 90 per cent., according to the conditions. 



Mr. A. O. Barrett suggests that the germination capacity of barley may 

 be affected during transit by the warmth imparted to the hold of the ship 

 by the boilers, or by the sweating of the barley itself when stored in bulk, 

 and that this may favour the germination of difificultly germinable grain. 

 He mentions that in Adelaide the firm has germinative difficulties with the 

 Chevalier or two-rowed sort, whereas in malting the same grain in Victoria 

 none were found to be dormant. 



In the particular case under discussion, hoAvever, Ave are undoubtedly 

 dealing with a case of delayed germination due to after ripening, for in 

 May, 1909, the barley harvested in December, 1908, which had previ- 

 ously shown so unsatisfactory germination suddenly gave 96 tO' 97 per cent, 

 germination in ordinary germination chamber tests without any previous 

 treatment. The same was given by the barley stored in bulk at the malt- 

 ing establishment under malting conditions. In this case therefore we 

 are dealing with a case of after ripening, the time required in Victoria 

 being 5 months, and being apparently cnmparativeh independent of the 



