Brenchl-ey . — The Development of the Grain of Barley . 919 
optimum, a slight rise occurring towards the end of the maturation period, 
which may or may not be real. 
Comparison between the Composition of the Grain and the Whole 
Plant of Barley and Wheat at Progressive Stages of Growth. On account 
of the different morphological structure of the barley and wheat grains no 
comparison between the two can be strictly concordant. In wheat the grain is 
simply the true fruit of the plant, consisting of the pericarp and the seed, 
while in barley the grain has incorporated with itself in addition the palea 
and the flowering glume. Also, the growing period of barley is con- 
siderably the longer, wheat growing for about 39 days from the time of 
the first sampling, while barley runs on for about 48 days from the same 
starting-point. 
Weight of grain, water content , &c. The green and dry weight of both 
barley and wheat reach their maximum in approximately the same time, the 
decided drop in the case of barley occurring during the long ripening 
period, which does not exist with wheat owing to the earlier harvesting. 
The range of weight is much the same in both the cereals. The percentage 
of dry weight is considerably higher in barley than in wheat in the early 
stages, probably owing to the presence of the dry chaffy glumes. 
[At the first cutting the glumes and the grains were separated, and the 
green and dry weights of each determined. The percentage results show 
that the glumes contain considerably more dry matter than the succulent 
grains at such an early stage in development. 
Percentage of Dry Weight to Green Weight in Shelled Grain and Glumes. 
Shelled grain. Glumes. 
A. July 13 18.47 30.97 
B. July 16 19.15 40.96 
C. July 22 22.35 48.32 
This difference diminishes as time goes on, so that eventually the 
percentages correspond fairly closely. The final result in barley is 10 
per cent, to 15 per cent, higher than in wheat as desiccation continues 
during the prolonged ripening period. The actual amounts of water 
present in 1,000 grains correspond very closely in both cases, though in 
barley the desiccation is continued until finally the dry grain contains only 
as much water as the newly formed grain at the first cutting. 
Nitrogen. The actual nitrogen in 1,000 grains runs a very parallel 
course, though the percentage of nitrogen in the dry matter of the grain is 
at first somewhat higher in wheat than in barley, while later on in develop- 
ment the two grains are very similar in this respect. In barley the percent- 
age of nitrogen steadily increases after it has dropped to its lowest value, 
whereas in wheat it remains practically constant from that time. Through- 
