402 



THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



smooth, somewhat shining surface. This hull is slightly in* 

 flated, easily removed, its triangular edges often splitting apart 

 in stored grain. The testa is membraneous, light yellowish 

 green in color; the embryo is curved and extends through the 

 center, dividing the endosperm into two parts. The endo- 

 sperm is comparatively soft and pure white in color. The 

 embryo is relatively larger than in wheat. 



573. Physical Properties. — The grain of buckwheat may be 

 described as a triangular pyramid with a rounded or bluntly 

 rounded base. The base of the kernel after the hull has been 

 removed is more nearly flat. While a cross section of the grain 

 is usually three-angled, it is occasionally four-angled and more 

 rarely two-angled. The grains vary in length from three-six- 

 teenths to three-eighths inch. The width of the three sides is 

 about equal, usually one-eighth to three-sixteenths inch at its 

 widest part. The hull, and hence the grain, varies in color 

 from silver gray to reddish brown and black. The legal weight 

 per bushel of buckwheat varies in different States from forty to 

 fifty-six pounds. In New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and 

 Canada, where it is chiefly raised, the weight per bushel is 

 forty-eight pounds. 



574. Composition. — The following is the composition of buck- 

 wheat, buckwheat straw, buckwheat flour and its by-products : 



As compared with the grain of wheat, buckwheat contains 

 a somewhat lower percentage of protein and a much higher 



