THE OIL CONTEXT OF FLAXSEED 33 
After the analyst has become thoroughly familiar with the method 
10 to 12 tests an hour should be made easily. Moreover, when a 
volume of samples is being handled and help is supplied the time 
for making the test can be shortened. 
SUMMARY 
Large differences have been found in the oil content of flax- 
seed of various classes. Within given classes of flaxseed this varia- 
tion in oil content amounts, in some crop years, to as much as 
15 per cent. 
This variation in oil content is due to climatic and varietal condi- 
tions and is further influenced by the manner in which the flax- 
seed is grown, harvested, and brought into commerce. 
There is no close relationship between the test weight per bushel 
of flaxseed and its oil content. 
The percentage of damaged flaxseeds contained in a sample is an 
expression of the quality of the oil in the flaxseed rather than of 
the amount of oil present. 
Foreign material occurring in flaxseed is of two general types. 
The material of one type contains no oil; that of the other type 
is oil bearing. The amount of oil in such oil-bearing seeds varies 
from approximately 17 per cent to over 46 per cent. Thus the 
effect of foreign material present in flaxseed upon the oil content 
of the sample depends upon the character and quantity of the for- 
eign material present. Nonoil-bearing seeds have the additional 
drawback of absorbing their own volume of oil during the crushing 
process. 
Excessive moisture in flaxseed lowers its intrinsic value, makes it a 
storage risk, and influences the efficiency with which it can be handled 
in the plant. 
As no close relationship exists between the physical factors now 
influencing the commercial grade flaxseed and the oil content of the 
seed, there can be no close relationship between present commercial 
grades of flaxseed and the oil content of the seed. 
To obtain exact information regarding the oil content of flaxseed, 
therefore, it is necessary to make a careful chemical analysis. For 
this purpose the optical method, described in detail, is recommended. 
LITERATURE CITED 
(1) Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. 
1924. official and tentative methods of analysis, as compared dy 
THE COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF METHODS. Revised to Jllly 1, 
1924. 535 p., illus. Washington, D. C. 
(2) Birch ABD, F. J. 
1920. grading of flax. Canada Dept. Trade and Com., Grain Research 
Lab. Rpt. 1913/18 : 71-73. 
(3) Clark, C. H. 
1920. EXPERIMENTS WITH FLAX ON BREAKING. U. S. Dept. AgT. Bill. 
883, 29 p., illns. 
(4) Garner. W. W., Allard, H. A., and Foubert. C. L. 
1914. OIL CONTENT OF SEEDS AS AFFECTED BY THE NUTRITION OF THE 
plant. Jour. Agr. Research 3 : 227-249. 
