26 



Comparing the means of the analyses of American samples with 

 those of foreign origin, we are again struck with the excess of moisture 

 in the foreign samples. In those from southwestern Europe are found 

 4 per cent more moisture than in samples of domestic origin. Among 

 the samples grown in the United States, those in the Middle West, viz, 

 Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, etc., contain the largest amount of moisture, 

 while those grown in the arid region have the smallest amount. Of the 

 domestic samples exhibited at the World's Fair it was found that the 

 mean content of water was 10.93 per cent, nearly 1 per cent higher than 

 the mean of former analyses of the Department. The weight of 100 

 kernels was a little more than that before found, and this is not a 

 surprising fact, inasmuch as it would be natural for exhibitors to send 

 not only the largest ears but also the largest grains to the Exposition. 

 The percentage of albuminoids in the domestic World's Fair samples 

 was surprisingly low, being about 0.75 per cent less than was found in 

 the work done a few years ago. On the other hand, the percentage of 

 digestible carbohydrates was about one point higher than that obtained 

 in the former work. In the above table will be found a convenient 

 comparison of the means of maize analyses from all parts of the world. 



The typical American maize should have approximately the following 

 composition: Weight of 100 kernels, 38 grams; moisture, 10.75 per 

 cent; albuminoids, 10 per cent; oil, 4.25 per cent; fiber, 1.75 per cent; 

 ash, 1.50 per cent; digestible carbohydrates, 71.75 per cent. 



OATS. 



In the United States, oats are used chiefly for cattle food, and the 

 amount devoted to the manufacture of oatmeal is small compared to 

 the total production. For this reason it seemed advisable to make the 

 analyses on the unhulled samples. The high percentage of crude fiber 

 and ash, therefore, which is found in the analytical tables is due to the 

 fact that the hull was ground with the grain. Former investigations of 

 the Department, recorded in Bulletin No. 9, show that the proportion 

 of kernel to the husk for the United States is as 7 to 3. In the Western 

 States the proportion of kernel is relatively higher and in the Southern 

 States relatively lower. One hundred samples of the hulls of oats, 

 representing all parts of the United States, were found to have the 

 following composition : 



Per cent. 



Water 5.22 



Ash 5.59 



Soluble carbohydrates and undetermined 68. 83 



Indigestible fiber 17.88 



Albuminoids 2. 48 



Taking this average composition of the hulls and the proportion of 

 kernel to husk as the basis of computation, it will be possible to calcu- 

 late the average results for each locality in terms of the kernel alone. 



In the following table are contained the results of the analyses of the 

 World's Fair samples arranged by States and foreign countries : 



