IMPORI'ANT TO EUROPEANS IN INDIA. 
99 
is made from raw grain. The quantity of 
grain consumed in this way amounted, in 
1834, to 6,694,34-1 bushels. 
We may consider the subject, first in re- 
ference to its physical nature, or the process 
of malting, and secondly in an economical 
point of view, or the duty on malt.^ 
I. PROCESS OF MAL I ING- 
Any kind of grain may be converted into 
malt, but in this country there are three species 
of plants belonging to the order Cercales 
which are peculiarly emt)loyed for this pur- 
pose. These are Hordeum distichum, H. 
vulgare, and H. hexastichon. 
1. TheH. distichum is commonly 
termed barley, \ and is characterized by hav- 
ing two lateral rows of seeds which are imbri- 
cate. The average lengtli of a seed is 0.343 
inches. Breadth 0.143 inch. Thickness 0. 08 
inch. 
2. H. vvlyarelAxiw, in herb. Errh. PI. 
Olf. 421. Herb. Dava'l. 1802, described 
by Linneus as having two rows of seeds more 
distinct, but there are two additional imper- 
fect ones. The length of a spike of average 
grain is 3 inches. Length of a seed .3/5 inch. 
Breadth 0. 16 inch. 
It is to this species that the name bigg, 
I believe, is more peculiarly applicable. The 
term is one employed by the country people 
in Scotland, who are not in general, as else- 
where, very precise in their definitions, 
and are apt to apply one term to different 
species. Indeed, the whole of the species 
are often indiscriminately called bear, a mix- 
ture being often sown which is termed blend- 
ed bear. 
3. H. hexastichon, Linn- Spec. Plant. 
125. Hort. Ups. 23, This species is described 
by Linneus as posessing universally herma- 
phrodite flc^wers, with the seeds placed 
regularly in ^ix rows. The seeds in my speci- 
men were in length .323 inch, in breadth .15 
inch, and much inflated and rounded on the 
external surface. Length of the spike 1,7 inch. 
I have been favoured with the authority of an 
extensive farmer for identifying this species 
with the Scotch bear, “ Bigg,^’ says he, 
has four rows on the head, two of which 
are better than the others and contain also 
more grains. Bear, has six rows, is a 
strong coarse grain and be easily known after 
separation from the straw, by its thick husk 
and long awn.” The first of these drstinc- 
tions niay be a tolerable criterion, but the 
latter is decidedly not so, because in Irish 
specimens which I possess, the awns of the 
H, are much longer than those of the 
H. hexastichon. It is, therefoi’e, a matter 
of great doubt whether in all cases these 
species of grain can be distinguished after 
separation from the straw. 
. correct discrimination of these species 
IS of great importance, because the quality of 
* See Papers presented to the House of Com- 
mons in 1799, ls04 and 1806. 
t Through the kindness of my friend Mr. 
Don, I have had an opportunity of identifying 
this and the following species with the speci- 
mens in the Linnean herbarium. 
the malt is inferior in the two latter. From 
the experiments made in 1806 by order of 
Government, it apf>ears that the value of 
barley is to bigg as ,100 to 89^, taking the 
mean of the value of English and Scotch 
barley as the standard ; butif we considered 
the Scotch barley still as of inferior quality to 
the English, then the relations will be as in 
1806, English barley 100, Scotch barley 93, 
Bieg 86 ; or the malt of bigg is 14 per cent, 
inferior to that of English barley, and 7 per 
cent, inferior to that of Scotch barley Their 
relative values ■ may, perhaps, be better 
appreciated by attention to the product of 
spirit derived from each. Thus the quantity 
of proof spirits per c[uarter of each, exhibited 
in the following table : 
Wine measure. Imperial measure, 
English Barley. 20.79 gallons. 17.20 gallons, 
Scotch Barley . .20.02 ,, 16,70 „ 
Scotch Bigg.. 18.96 „ 15.72^ „ 
They differ also in respect of weight, so 
that the quality may be in some measure 
detected by this test. The average weight of 
each kind of grain is represented as follows : 
lbs. avoird. Imperial measure. 
English Barley .... 49,871 per Winchester 
bushel. 51,444 
Scotch Barley 49.734 „ 51.327 
Scotch Bigg. 47,3.32 „ 48.849 
From experiments, it appears that the grain 
does nut lose any weight by keeping. After 
an interval o/_-fiix months, the difference of 
weight stjarcely ever amounted to yj^th, and 
this was generally in favour of the grain which 
had been kept longest. 
If we inquire into the natural history of 
these different species, we shall be able to 
throw some light upon the causes of the 
difference in the value of their grain, 
(To be continued.) 
TRAVELLING LIFE- APPARATUS. 
Sir, — The accompanying drawings repre- 
sent a travelling life-apparatus, (he inten- 
tion of which is, to combine in one expedi- 
tious travelling carriage every means which 
can contribute toward the salvation of the 
lives of shipwrecked nmriners. 
It consists of a life boat gun for having 
lines — a catamaran for clearing surfs — and a 
carriage for the conveyance thereof ; which 
last can be used for the transportation of 
anchors and cables, scaling-ladders for cliffs, 
and in war fot defence of the coast. It 
might also be used for the purpose of accom- 
panying armies, and enabling them to cross 
rivers ; uniting, in one machine, the bag- 
gage-waggon, pontoon, and gun-carriage. 
The models (of which the accompanying 
are correct drawings) have been already laid 
before several of the public boards ; and I 
have been endeavouring for these two years 
to get it adopted, but without success. 
An invention on such a subject should not 
be kept a secret, particularly at this stormy 
