150 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



The smallest were from Iowa and Nebraska, weigliing 1.300 grams per 

 bnndred grains, and the lightest from Kew York, 56.2 pounds per bushel, 

 the average for the country being 2.074 grams per 100 graius and G0.9 

 pounds per bushel. The largest and heaviest rye was found on the 

 Atlantic coast and in the Northern States. The Pacific slope was not 

 well represented. , 



The average weight per bushel is rcuch higher than is usually ac- 

 cepted for rye, but the specimens in hand certainly reached those fig- 

 ures, either from being very clean or selected samples above the average 

 production. Illinois, which in the last census year produced more of 

 the crop than any State except New York, sends the smallest and light- 

 est average grain. 



In chemical composition the followijig extremes were found: 



But five were below 10 per cent, of albuminoids, and all but four were 

 below 13 per cent. 



The grain cannot be said to be extremely variable. The average for 

 the country is here given, together with an average of forty-nine analy- 

 ses of ryes from aU sources, given by Koenig : 



The extremes of albuminoids in Koenig's analyses were 16.93 and 7.91 

 per cent., which is wider than among our specimens. 



For different parts of the United States the averages are very nearly 

 concordant, the only variation being an average of half a per cent, al- 

 buminoids, and a little more fiber in ten specimens from the South. 

 The difference between our grain and that of the Continent appears in 

 the greater moisture of the latter, as is to be expected, together with 

 more ash and oil and less fiber. The nitrogenous coasti tu-juts are prac - 

 tically the same, and this cereal is richer than corn in this element aud 

 not so rich as wheat. 



Eye cannot be considered as being very susceptible to climatic condi- 

 tions ; in fact it wiU flourish where other cereals will not. It requires, 

 therefore, no greater care in its improvement than the selection of the 

 variety giving the largest yield and careful cultivation. 



GENERAL CONCLUSIONS ON THE CEREALS. 



From our study of tho various cereals, corn, wheat, oats, barley, and 

 rye, it appears that they all have certain peculiarities, as shown by their 



