73 



less than one-half per cent, difference from 11.50 per cent, in the average 

 for all but California, which has 10.50 per cent. This is higher than 

 was found in the Canadian grain, so that it may safely be said that the 

 latter is at present the best in the market and superior to our own. 

 Among the analyses the following extremes are found : 



Dakota sustains its reputation for high nitrogen and Oregon for low, 

 but the variations in this constituent are not as wide as in wheat, bar- 

 ley, like rye, appearing to be less affected in this respect, although 

 Maercker's experiments show that barley responds in its percentage of 

 albuminoids readily to nitrogenous manuring. His seed was. however, 

 very poor in albuminoids 7.7-8.0 per cent. and would naturally in- 

 crease when the conditions were made favorable. 



In Koenig's collection of analyses of this grain he gives as the aver- 

 age of 127 specimens : 



This is but little different from the average production of the United 

 States, and would point to the fact that our country, at any rate in 

 certain portions, produces as good malting barley as others. Canada 

 is a witness to this fact, as shown by the specimens which have been 

 examined from there, which are well above foreign averages in starchi- 

 ness. Experience and care have taught the Canadians, in connection 

 with their favorable climate, the means of producing an excellent 

 grain, superior to other parts of the country. It seems quite possible 

 for the farmers in many portions of the United States, and especially 

 California, the climatic conditions of which are such as to avoid dam- 

 aging summer rains, with no too dry and hot a climate, to increase our 

 supply of barley of good quality by attention to the conditions which 



