3° 
Some Varieties of Huskless Barley 
from Thibet. 
By Horace T. Brown, F.R.S., F.G.S., F.I.C., &c. 
(Read before the Society, January 10th, 1890.) 
= FEW years ago, whilst examining the very fine collection 
of cereals in the Museum of Kew Gardens, my 
attention was particularly attracted by two curious 
specimens of barley, which were labelled as coming 
from Saharanpur, in the North-West Province of India. Both 
these varieties were huskless, or skinless barleys, that is to say, the 
palee, or glumes, instead of being permanently adherent to the 
grain, as in ordinary barley, are so loosely attached that they 
readily fall off on ripening, just as in the case of wheat or rye. 
One of the specimens was of the usual colour, but the other 
was of a dark chocolate tint, and presented altogether a most 
unusual appearance. Through the kindness of Mr. Thiselton 
Dyer, the Director of Kew Gardens, I had some of this barley put 
into my hands for examination, and was also put into com- 
munication with Mr. Duthie, of the Saharanpur Botanical Gardens, 
who has recently sent me a large quantity of three different kinds 
of huskless barley, which were grown under his direction. One 
of these is white, another a dull green, and the third a dark 
chocolate. 
Mr. Duthie informs me that all three of these varieties were 
introduced into the Punjab about the year 1881, the seed having 
been procured from Poo, in Thibet. 
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