CHARACTERS OF GOOD MALTING BARLEY 509 



able by chemical analysis, but sorae of the external and readily 

 observable characters mentioned below frequently indicate the 

 value of samples. 



a. Composition. — In the malting process the starch of the 

 grain is changed into soluble compounds — dextrin and maltose — 

 which are extracted by means of water and ultimately fermented. 

 The amount of starch should therefore be high in order to obtain 

 a rich extract ; the best samples contain from 62 to 64 per cent, 

 of starch. 



The proteid-content of barley varies from 6^ to over 17 per 

 per cent. ; it should be as low as possible, as it is found that 

 barleys with a high percentage of proteids give turbid worts, and 

 the keeping quality of the beer prepared from them is reduced. 



In the best samples the proteids usually average not more than 

 9 per cent. : medium samples contain loj or 11 per cent., while 

 poor ones frequently contain 1 2 per cent. 



The amount: of water in the grain is important, as it is found 

 that the drier barleys germinate more quickly and evenly than 

 the damper samples. Moreover those with a high water-content 

 sooner lose their germinating capacity and are more liable to be 

 injured and overrun by saprophytic fungi (moulds) than drier 

 ones. The amount of water present in the grain depends upon 

 the ripeness when cut, the method of harvesting, subsequent 

 sweating in the stack, and upon other conditions. Good samples 

 contain an average of 14 per cent. 



b. Germination Capacity and Germination Energy. — The 

 quicker the germination the more even the malt and the better 

 the yield of extract. In good samples 96 per cent, of the grains 

 germinate in seventy-two hours when kept at a temperature of 

 18° to 2o°C. ; if the percentage is as low as 85 in this time the 

 sample should be rejected. 



c. Plumpness and Weight. — The grains should be short and 

 thick and of uniform shape, and the sample should be free from 

 broken grains or those with injured skins. The bushel- weight of 



