2 



BULLETIN 634, U. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGEICL""LTE"EE. 



Fifty kernels of kafir were measured with a micrometer in three 

 directions. As a kernel of kafir lay on a flat surface the vertical 

 diameter was called the thickness : the shorter horizontal diameter, the 

 width, and the long diameter, the length. The maximum and mini- 

 mum as well as the average dimensions are shown in the following table : 



Table I. — Measurements of 50 kernels of dwarf black-hulled while kafir, in 'millimeters. 





Dimension. 



; Maximum. 



Minimum. 



Average. 







Mm. 

 2. 74 



Mm. 

 2.16 

 2.95 

 3.07 



Mm. 

 2.46 



Width 





3.71 



3.33 



Length 





! 4.57 



3.90 



T/ZAHSL/&?S£' 



One thousand kernels of this sample weighed 23^- grams. There- 

 fore, one kernel weighs on an average 0.0235 gram. From the 



measurements recorded in the 

 table the average volume of 

 these kernels was calculated 

 and found to be 16.78 cubic 

 millimeters and the surface of 

 such a grain 32.98 square milli- 

 meters. 



One hundred and fifty-seven 

 grams of kafir were treated with 

 sufficient water to loosen the 

 bran and then separated with 

 a dissecting needle into bran, 

 germ, and endosperm. It was 

 found that only enough water 

 to wet the surface of the kernel 

 was required and with two 

 hours' standing in this condi- 

 tion the bran could be removed 

 easily. Regardless of the time 

 of soaking, there was always 

 some difficulty in getting the 

 bran loose at the tip. The 

 separation of the germ and endosperm at that point was also difficult. 

 For that reason there is probably a small amount of starch mixed with 

 the germ, but special care was taken to keep this as small as possible. 

 It was found that 6.1 per cent, by weight, of the kafir kernel was 

 bran ; 10 per cent was germ ; 83.9 per cent was endosperm. This would 

 amount to 1.02 cubic millimeters of bran; 1.68 cubic miUimeters of 

 germ ; 1 1. 1 cubic millimeters of endosperm, if we assume that those three 

 substances have practically the same specific gravity. On the same 

 assumption the thickness of the bran would average 0.031 millimeter. 

 Surrounding the endosperm lies a very friable, more or less granular 

 laver which seems to carrv a larcje amount of coloring matter. This 



COA/G/TUO/r^l. 



Fig. 1. — Sections of kafir kernels showing (A; germ. 

 (B) starchy endosperm. ' Cj homy endosperm. 



