THE SMALL GRAINS 209 



(2) Freedom from Foreign Matter. — We look for three 

 kinds of foreign matter in wheat. The first and worst 

 one is weed seeds ; the second is grain of other kinds, as 

 barley or oats; and the third is inert matter, as sticks, 

 chaff, etc. 



(3) Soundness. — This is an important factor to con- 

 sider in judging seed wheat. The kernels should be plump 

 and bright in color. Shriveled kernels indicate immaturity. 

 The sample should be free from kernels which are decayed, 

 sprouted, rausty, moldy, binburnt, broken, shrunken, 

 smutted, bleached, blistered, discolored, damp, or insect 

 injured. 



Most of these unsoundnesses indicate that the vitality 

 of the seed has been impaired or destroyed, which ac- 

 counts for the importance attached to this point in judging 

 seed wheat. 



(4) Weight per Bushel. — Plump, well-developed ker- 

 nels of medium size indicate a high weight per bushel. 

 We consider the sample low in weight per bushel in pro- 

 portion as we find many shrunken, shriveled, musty, 

 moldy, sprouted or badly weathered kernels, or in case 

 much inert foreign matter is present. In judging samples, 

 weight per bushel is usually determined rather by indica- 

 tions of this kind than by actual weighing, as the latter 

 can not ordinarily be done. 



High weight per bushel is desirable in seed wheat, for 

 it means that the kernels are plump, or in other words 

 that the store of food for the embryo in the average kernel 

 is large. (Exercise 24.) 



(5) Hardness. — Relative hardness may be deter- 

 mined by biting in two several kernels from each sample, 

 or by cutting them in two with a knife. Hard wheat is 

 best for milling purposes and commands a higher price in 

 the market. 



