320 THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



grains than six-rowed varieties. Grains coming from the 

 Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast States are Hkewise Inngei' 

 and plumper than those from the North Central and North 

 Atlantic States. 



440. The Hull. — The hull or husk of barley may constitute 

 less than ten per cent or as much as twenty-five per cent of the 

 grain. The average is probably about fifteen per cent, or half 

 that of the oat grain. Grains of the six-rowed barley have 

 thicker hulls than the two-rowed barley. The hull of barley is 

 of value in the process of malting by protecting the embryo 

 during germination and subsequently acting as a filter when the 

 malt is extracted. The rudiment of the second flower is attached 

 at the base of the flowering glume and lies almost concealed in 

 the furrow next the palea. This feathery appendage about half 

 the length of the grain is said to be a ready channel for the 

 conveying of moisture to the kernel. 



441. The Character of the Endosperm. — The endosperm 

 varies in texture (not structure) and color from mealy white to 

 glassy or vitreous. (238) The character of the endosperm varies 

 with (i) the variety, the two-rowed being more mealy than the 

 six-rowed ; with (2) the maturation, fully but not overripe grains 

 being the most mealy; and with (3) the climate, a moist and 

 insular climate being most conducive to complete maturation. 

 (74) As in wheat and maize, a glassy or translucent endosperm 

 is accompanied by high percentage of protein and a correspond- 

 ing decrease of starch. The character of the endosperm may 

 be determined by cutting the grain across with a sharp instru- 

 ment. In an average of thirty-six samples of American barley, 

 Wahl and Henius report sixteen per cent of the grains mealy ; 

 fifty-two per cent half glassy, and thirty-two per cent glassy. 

 The character of the endosperm may also be determined by 

 placing the grains of barley by suitable contrivance between the 

 observer and a strong light, when the number of opaque, partly 

 opaque and translucent grains may be determined. 



