1920.] 



Linseed Grown in Scotland. 



29 



on the oil content, and it was found that in all the samples the 

 removal of the seed raised the percentage of the oil content. 

 Before removal, the average percentage oil content of the 

 samples was 30-81 ; after removal, 34*60 per cent. 



The second set of samples was finally-cleaned linseed, con- 

 taining very few weed seeds, and the linseed themselves, having 

 been graded in the cleaning, were much more even in size than 

 was the case with the samples referred to in Table I. 



The following table gives the average percentage composition 

 of sixteen of these samples, together with the composition of 

 the samples containing the minimum and maximum percentage 

 of oil : — 



Table II. 





Average 

 Percentage of 

 sixteen Samples. 



Sample contain- 

 ing minimum 

 Percentage 

 of Oil. 



Sample contain- 

 ing maximum 

 Percentage 

 of Oil. 



Moisture 



8-66 



9-00 



9-06 



Oil 



36*i5 



34*74 



38*55 



Albuminoids 



21 -91 



20T2 



20 -12 



Fibre 



6-78 



6-oo 



5*95 



Ash 



3*75 



3-60 



378 



Soluble 









carbohydrates . . 



22-75 



26-54 



22-54 



It will be seen that these samples differ but little in composi- 

 tion, the difference in the percentage of oil between the highest 

 and the lowest being about 4 per cent. : the average percentage 

 of oil in the 16 samples is about 36 per cent. 



A comparison of the average percentage of oil in the samples 

 tested in the laboratory as to the effect of the removal of weed 

 seeds on the oil content with the average percentage shown in 

 Table II. shows that the latter is a little higher owing to the 

 removal, in the mechanical cleaning, of the smaller and the 

 less mature linseed as well as the weed seeds. 



The article states that it has frequently been maintained and 

 often used as an argument against the growing of linseed in this 

 country that British climatic conditions do not allow of the 

 growing of linseed with as high a percentage of oil as that 

 contained in imported seed. This belief has been shown to be 

 quite incorrect, for at a number of English centres the home- 

 grown seed has contained as high a percentage of oil, and in 

 cases even higher.* 



• See this Journal, June, 1915, p. 255, February, 1916, p. 1071, and July, 



1919, p. 4 2 °- 



