322 Experiments upon Wheat, Barley, and Swedes. 
Percentage of Albuminoids. 
Variety of Wheat. 
Translucent. 
Opaque. 
11'19 
8-75 
13-06 
9-50 
10-69 
8-87 
11-85 
9-04 
In examining the various samples of wheat grown during botli the past 
season and in 1868, under the different cultivations pursued, a marked- 
difi'erence was observed in their apparent quality. This was especially the 
case in comparing wheats which had been wide spaced with those grown 
under more ordinary circumstances. This difference was chiefly owing to the 
much larger proportion of horny or translucent grains in those plots which, 
had been allowed a freer circulation of air. A simple analysis was made by 
taking three portions of 100 seeds each from the produce of each plot, and 
counting the number of translucent, opaque, and medium grains in each, 
portion. The accompanying table will show the average of the three deter- 
minations in the case of all the plots subjected to this examination. 
Percentage of Translucent, Medium, and Opaque Grains. 
Plots. 
Translucent. 
Medium. 
Opaque. 
1 
Every alternate row obliterated,'! 
54 
29 
17 
2 
Every alternate row obliterated,) 
■wheat hoed in the row into^ 
82 
14 
4 
"tufts." J 
3 
Ordinary wheat for comparison 
32 
20 
48 
6 
Alternate rows removed, audi 
17 
remaining rows tufted as in 2 J 
79 
4 
4 
3 rows obliterated, aud 3 rowsl 
left, forked / 
61 
25 
14 
5 
Alternate rows obliterated, spaces) 
70 
8 
22 
7 
3 rows obliterated, and 3 rows> 
17 
10 
left, spaces not forked .. 
73 
9 
3 rows obliterated, and 3 rowsl 
left, spaces forked . . . . / 
5S 
25 
17 
The most striking fact to be observed in examining the foregoing table- 
is the very much larger proportion of translucent grain in the widely drilled 
than in the ordinary wheat. The " tufted " plots especially seemed to indicate 
the much larger proportion of nitrogen that wheat, under such cultivation, is 
capable of absorbing from the air and soil than when under more ordinary con- 
ditions of growth. It may further be observed that sjxfce, and not the forking 
of the land, is the cause of this increase in the proportion of horny grains, the 
highest amount being found in the samples of wheat from 2, 5, 6, and 7, none.- 
of which were subjected to iutcrculture. 
BoTjal Agricultural College, Cirencester, June, 1870. 
