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-LII, 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 botli). 
In Xo. IV two living weevils and numerous living mites 
were found, and in some of the other samples Jiving or dead 
mites were abundant, as well as an accumulation of their 
excrement. The excrement was specially abundant in Nos. 
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 mites, 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-laver, 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 verv little 
oil. 
One per cent, osmic acid was used to show the dis- 
tribution of the oil. Chlorophyll solution and aikanna 
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 : — 
(1) Can. parboiling be advantageous in killing any 
mites, etc., present? 
