BULLETIN 634, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Fifty kernels of kafir were measured with a micrometer in three 
directions. As a kernel of kafir lay on a flat surface the vertical 
diameter was called the thickness; the shorter horizontal diameter, the 
width, and the long diameter, the length. The maximum and mini- 
mum as well as the average dimensions are shown in the following table : 
Table I. — Measurements of 50 kernels of dwarf black-hulled irMte l-afir, in millimeters. 
Dimension. 
Maximum. 
Minimum. 
Average. 
Mm. 
2. 74 
Mm. 
2.16 
2.95 
3.07 
Mm. 
2.46 
Width 
3.71 
3.33 
4. r.7 
3.90 
T&4A/SI/&?S£~ 
One thousand kernels of this sample weighed 23J grams. There- 
fore, one kernel weighs on an average 0.0235 gram. From the 
measurements recorded in the 
table the average volume of 
these kernels was calculated 
and found to be 16.78 cubic 
millimeters and the surface of 
such a grain 32.98 square milli- 
meters. 
One hundred and fifty-seven 
grams of kafir were treated with 
sufficient water to loosen the 
bran and then separated with 
a dissecting needle into bran, 
germ, and endosperm. It was 
found that only enough water 
to wet the surface of the kernel 
was required and with two 
hours' standing in this condi- 
tion the bran could be removed 
easily. Regardless of the time 
of soaking, there was always 
some difficulty in getting the 
bran loose at the tip. The 
separation of the germ and endosperm at that point was also difficult. 
For that reason there is probably a small amount of starch mixed with 
the germ, but special care was taken to keep this as small as possible. 
It was found thai 6.1 per cent, by weight, of the kafir kernel was 
bran ; 10 per cent was germ ; 83.9 per cent was endosperm. This would 
amount to 1.02 cubic millimeters of bran; 1.68 cubic millimeters of 
germ; 14.1 cubic millimeters of endosperm, if we assume that those three 
substances have practically the same specific gravity. On the same 
assumption the thickness of the bran would average 0.031 millimeter. 
Surrounding the endosperm lies a very friable, more or less granular 
layer which seems to carry a large amount of coloring matter. This 
COA/G/ruOZ/WL 
Fig. 1.— Sections of kafir kernels showing (A) germ, 
(B) starchy endosperm, ( C) horny endosperm. 
