166 



FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



of the glumes. The spikelets are but one-flowered, and 

 are inclosed in the flowering glume and palea, both of 

 which, in all varieties except the hull-less, cling to the 

 t kernel after thrashing. The ker- 

 nels, after the glumes or hulls are 

 removed, have much the same 

 appearance as wheat kernels, 

 being creased on one side like 

 wheat, but having more rounded 

 sides and a more pointed tip. 

 The flowering glumes bear stiff, 

 sharply barbed awns, which vary 

 from 3 to 6 inches in length. 

 The awns or beards of barley are 

 much stiffer and are more dis- 

 agreeable to handle than those 

 of wheat or rye. The outer glume 

 is awl or bristle shaped and varies 

 in length from f to 1J inches in 

 length. The spikelets are sessile 

 and three are produced from each 

 joint of the rachis, differing in this 

 respect from both wheat and rye. 

 The percentage of hull in barley 

 varies from 10 to 25 per cent or 

 more, the average being about 15 

 or 16 per cent. The character of 

 the endosperm varies from mealy 

 to glassy or vitreous. The char- 

 acter of the endosperm also varies with the variety, 

 the stage of maturity at which the plant was, cut and the 

 climate. The fully matured kernel usually is more 

 mealy in character than the immature one, and contains 



FIG. 60. A head of two- 

 rowed barley (side view) . 



