BOMBAY GRASSES. 11 
Much of the Indian wheat, whether white or red, has that translucent aspect 
which generally indicates a high percentage of albuminoids. 
In 1867 (“ Practice with Science,” i, pp. 101—111, 345—348) T pointed out 
some of the chief relationships between the aspect, density, weight per bushel, 
productiveness, and chemical composition of wheat grain, showing more parti- 
cularly that the exclusion of small proportion of the lightest of the grains in a 
seed corn tells very favourably upon the yield, and also that there is a very 
intimate connection between the translucency or horny character of a grain and 
a high percentage of aloumimoids, and, again, between the softness and opacity 
of a grain and a high percentage of starch, Such differences in the composition 
of wheat grain show themselves, not merely in different varieties of wheat, but 
even in the same variety of wheat when it has been grown under different 
conditions of climate or season. liven in the grains from a single ear similar 
differences may be seen—analysis showing sometimes 3 or 4 per cent. more 
albuminoids in some of such grains than in others. Often a single ear will be 
partly horny and partly opaque and soft; in that case its composition will 
correspond with its intermediate aspect. By examining the cut surface of a 
grain which has been cut transversely with a sharp knife, a fair notion of its 
richness or poverty in albuminoids may indeed be easily gained. 
Average composition of Indian wheat— 
In 100 parts. In 1 Ib. 
Wraterincacacss Seucica senmasemenactse a lies). 2 0z. 0 gts. 
Albuminoids ........- conoscencese BUS PAD eros OO) oe 
SUBIRED — céooocasdas Sagsececonocsece ) (ste! LOG jt boa 
Oi ea, Stato Oh ee Sal 
JMG corenocee Acaecedacnecee morceo 9 PAR! On ESO a. 
Wainy aati sitet ie Ba Get Sse) Ons arebt 9) 
The nutrient ratio is here 1to 5:2 and nutrient value 84°6. It should be 
added that the starch above-named contains a small quantity (about 2 per cent.) 
of the sugar or sugars found in many cereals, but this may be regarded as nob 
appreciably lowering the nutrient value of the 68°4 parts set down as “ starch.” 
The ash of wheat, though not large in amount, is of great importance as a 
source of mineral nutrient when this grain is used as human food, about 30 
per cent, of it being potash and 45 per cent. phosphoric acid, 
There is no record of this useful cereal having been found in a wild state. 
It has been cultivated everywhere time out of mind. There are authors, 
however, who think that it is the result of the cultivation of a Species of 
yylops, which is now admitted to be a section of Triticum. Tb is stated by 
Bentham and Hooker (Genera Plantarum, 1204) that iy, ylops is represented 
