REPORT OF THE CHEiaST. 



147 



farmer has only to turn his attention to the selection of the variety giv- 

 ins" the largest yield and weight per bushel. 



As to the deterioration of seed brought from the North to the South, 

 our analyses fail to famish as much information as might be expected. 

 The averages for these two sections of the country are so nearly the 

 same that no conclusions can be drawn from them. In the same way 

 no difference is found in the composition of heavy and light oats, 

 although light oats being more husky probably contain absolutely less 

 albuminoids. 



It must here be remarked that in the last census year over one-half 

 the crop of this cereal came from the five States, Illinois, Iowa, New 

 York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The composition of our market 

 able crop is, therefore, nearly the average for these States. 



BARLEY. 



Although the production of barley in the United States has hitherto 

 been small and insufficient to supply the demand, and although it is 

 confined to a small portion of the country, it is growing, and, owing to 

 the increased production of beer causing an increased demand, it ought 

 to prove a profitable crop to cultivate and its area should increase. It 

 costs no more than wheat to cultivate, it returns a greater number of 

 bushels to the acre, and it is worth more per bushel. 



Owing to its peculiar uses, a study of its chemical composition is of 

 peculiar interest, as, for malting purposes, aside from its color and 

 ability to germinate, the relation of the starch to the albuminoids is 

 of the greatest importance. 



Samples have been collected, through our agents, to the number of 

 about sixty, from ihose parts of the country where it is a crop of any 

 prominence. They represent fairly weU the production of the United 

 States, but Canada, which furnishes us with a large portion of what we 

 use, is, unfortunately, not represented. The largest number of analy- 

 ses are not for the largest areas of production — New York, Wisconsin, 

 and California, which raise more than half the crop — but they are scat- 

 tered through all the States where any amount of barley is grown. In 

 consideringthe average features of the crop as it is found in market, 

 especial regard .must be had for the figures from the States just named, 

 and for the fact that Canadian barley, which is said to be the best, is not 

 represented at all. 



As it is almost impossible to detach the hulls from this grain, the 

 great majority were analyzed as they were threshed out and only a few 

 were separated into hulls and kernel. 



The average composition of the sixty unhulled specimens was: 



Water 



Ash 



Oil 



Carbohydrates.. . . .. 



Crude 6bor ........ 



Albuminoids i . . . i.*-' 



Per cent. 



6.53 

 2.80 

 2.68 



72.77 

 3.80 



11.33 



From these figures the averages for the different portions of the coun- 

 try vary but little, although the Pacific slope, as usual, is 1 per cent, 

 lower in albuminoids than the Atlantic States, and somewhat heavierr 



