473 



Research. Kuala Lumpur, F. M. S., have been examined, 

 with the following results. 



Untreated Padi, padi after soaking, and padi after 

 soaking and steaming (Samples I-III, XIV-XVI) show no 

 distinct difference in the amount or destruction of the oil. 

 The aleurone layer contains a considerable amount of oil; 

 in the rest of the endosperm there is very little. Small 

 drops of oil were found here and there in the cells of the 

 outer layers of the endosperm, but usually none deeper 

 than 3-4 layers beneath the aleurone-layer. 



In the rest of the samples the aleurone-layer (as well 

 as the fruit-wall, etc.,) has been removed to a varying 

 extent, only small remnants of it being left in some of the 

 samples. In some cases (e.g. VII) this appears to have 

 been done by some mechanical process, while in others (e.g. 

 XI and XII) the partial removal of the aleurone-layer has 

 evidently been effected by mites or weevils (one or both). 

 In No. IV two living weevils and numerous living mites 

 were found, and in some of the other samples living or dead 

 mites were abundant, as well as an accumulation of their 

 excrement. The excrement was specially abundant in Xos. 

 IV and XII, and it appears to contain practically no oil. It 

 seems probable, therefore, that, when rice is stored for 

 some time, a great part of the oil may be removed, in con- 

 sequence of rnites, etc.. feeding on the aleurone-layer. 



In some of the cases in which the aleurone-layer was 

 fragmentary (X, XI) it was found that a few fungal hyphae 

 were occasionally present in cells of the aleurone-layer, but 

 these hyphae were not abundant, and were probably of no 

 particular significance. In X, XI and XII, of such aleu- 

 rone-eells as were present, many contained only a very little 

 oil. 



One per cent, osmic acid was used to show the dis- 

 tribution of the oil. Chlorophyll solution and alkanna 

 solution were used for comparison, the staining being 

 carried out rapidly to avoid dispersal of the oil by the 

 spirit. 



There appear to be four or more varieties of rice 

 among the samples. This might account for different 

 amounts of oil being found, even in samples with intact 

 aleurone-layer 



Two suggestions may be made as a result of the ex- 

 amination : — 



(I) Can parboiling be advantageous in killing any 

 mites, etc., present! 



