77 



Observe a Straw RrNO used in Switzerland to stand round- nAcp 

 bottomed pots upon. 1 . ^ 



Some very fine samples of straw plait and articles made from 

 it are shown, includinjij a seven-plait hand-sewn Tuscan Hat 

 from Florence; also instrumenls used for splitting the straws, 

 and specimens of Chinese ttraw plait as imported from 

 Shnnghai. 



Room No. 10. 



This and the next Case (117) contains nuoGerous varieties of CASES 

 English grown Barley {Hordeum vulgare, L.), one of the ii6 

 cultivated plants of Egypt and Palestine. Grains of barley and 

 have been found in the Egyptian tombs. The plant is hardier 117. 

 than either wheat or oats, and may be grown in high northern 

 latitudes. It was largely used in ancient times as an article of 

 food, but the bulk of the barley now cultivated with us is used 

 for malting, in the production of beer, spirits, and vinegar. 

 Ground into a meal it is also largely used for feeding pigs, and 

 when deprived of its husk by milling it forms Scotch or Pot 

 Barley, and by rounding the grains and removing the outer 

 coat Pearl Barley is produced. Specimens are exhibited. 



"The Troy Grain is nothing more than the barley-corn, 

 " which was used as the weight unit in preference to the grain 

 " of wheat in some parts of the Roman empire " (Ridgway). 



No 202. Series illustrating the process of malting. The 

 barley, having been made to germinate by warmth and moisture, 

 is dried and its vitality destroyed. Its infusion contains sugar 

 and is then fermentable. 



On the middle shelf observe several specimens of skinless or 

 naked barley, in which the paleae do not adhere to the grains, 

 but drop off in threshing, leaving the grains naked like those of 

 wheat. Samples are shown from Tibet and from Saharunpur, 

 the produce of a variety of the common barley, described as 

 H. qymnodisticlion. 



ISTote also a sample of Mi-Meii, or Rice Wheat, from 

 Ichang, the produce of //. JEgiceras, Nees., perhaps, also u 

 variety of H. vulgare, L. 



On the bottom shelf are Table Mats and Baskets from La- 

 brador, made of Lyjie Grass {Elymns arenarius, L.). A 

 common sand binding grass of the British shores, but found 

 also in other parts of Europe, as well as in North Asia and 

 North America. 



