43 



Average composition of hulls of oats, arranged by States Continued. 



The chemical composition of the specimens appears from the preced- 

 ing data to be rather surprising. It was reasonable to suppose that as 

 oats deteriorate so readily, and are apparantly so easily influenced by 

 their environment, great variations would be found in their composition 

 under different climatic conditions, as is the case with wheats. Brewer 

 remarks in his census report that a hundred or more analyses would be 

 requisite to set at rest all questions in regard to this grain, and that 

 they would be an extremely valuable contribution to our knowledge of 

 the comparative nutritive values of the oats grown in different portions 

 of the United States and their relative economic values. One hundred 

 and seventy-nine analyses have been made, and we learn that there is 

 not that variation in the oat kernel itself which was expected to be due 

 to climatic condition. The proportion of husk to kernel and the com- 

 pactness of the grain prove to be the all-important factors, and the 

 weight per bushel the best means of judging of the value of the grain. 



The only peculiarities noticed are that the eighteen specimens from 

 the Pacific slope are lower in albuminoids and richer in fiber than the 

 averages for other parts of the country. The average for the hulls from 

 the West show the presence of more ash than in those from the East, 

 and more fiber, and, like the kernels, they are slightly deficient in al- 



