REPORT OP THE CHEMIST. 



i4y 



made out by the practical man. The averages for the country are as 

 follows : 



The specimens from the Northwest and the Pacific are heavier per 

 one hundred grains and in weight per bushel than the others, while 

 those from the northern boundary are next in order. The heaviest 

 weight per bushel is from Utah, 60.2 pounds, and the largest size, 4.9000 

 grams per 100 grains, from California. The lightest barley is firom 

 Pennsylvania, 50.4 i^ounds per bushel, and the smallest size, 2.G300 

 grams per 100 grains, is from the same Stat©. Several of the bald va- 

 rieties run, of course, above the figures given, one from Washington 

 Territory weighing C5.8 pounds per bushel and 4.9300 grams per 100 

 grains. 



In the few samples in which the husk was detached from the grain, 

 it was found to amount to about 15 per cent, on the average, "with ex- 

 tremes of 16.94 and 12,55 per cents. 



The color and consistency, together with the high nitrogen of our bar- 

 leys, however, appear to be their weak points. Prom some recent Gor- 

 man experiments we learn that a high-grade barley contains less than 

 9 per cent, of albuminoids, is mealy in consistency, in distinction Ixom 

 a glassy fracture, and is necessarily of a clear white color. Many of 

 our barleys are oif-color, and but three of all our samples can be quali- 

 fied as mealy. The albuminoids are no higher than the averages of 

 other investigators, but much higher than is allowable in good malting, 

 according to the best judges to-day. There seems to be much room, 

 therefore, for improvement in the quality of this crop as grown among 

 us as well as in an extension of its area, so that we may produce our 

 own supply. 



There seems to be no reason why the desired result should not be ac- 

 complished by careful selection and cultivation without nitrogenous 

 manures which tend to increase the percentage of albuminoids. 



It is intended to learn the views of practical malstcrs and brewers on 

 this subject and combine their conclusions with our results in our de- 

 tailed report. 



EYT5. 



Of this cereal, which is of the least importance of any grown in the 

 United States, only five samples have been analyzed up to the prest^nt 

 time. To supply this deficiency specimens were collected from the De- 

 partment correspondents and the principal rye-producing States at the 

 same time with oats and barley. 



Pifty-six have been examined physically and chemically, with the fol- 

 lowing results : 



The largest specimen was from Washington Territory, weighing 3.450 

 grams per 100 grains, the next from Minnesota, weighing 2.780 per 100 

 grains, and the heaviest weight per bushel from Vermont, 04,1 pounds. 



