ANALYSES OF WHEAT. 
148 
ANALYSIS OF WHEAT, INCLUDING ITS STRAW AND CHAFF. 
Many difficulties exist in the analysis of the grain of the cereals, and particularly in 
wheat and indian corn. In consequence of this fact in part, I regret that I am unable to 
give a full account of the composition of the former. But this is not all. I have been 
poorly supplied with samples of the grain ; and not living in a wheat district, I have been 
unable to procure it, either in a ripe condition, or in its different stages of growth. I made 
repeated applications, both to the members of the Agricultural Society, and to other indi¬ 
viduals, but only in two or three instances have my applications been successful. I availed 
myself, however, of several fine samples of wheat in the Society’s Collection, which were 
furnished by Mr. Harmon, who has been referred to already. These, although the straw 
was in sufficient quantity for analysis, the grain itself was insufficient in amount to answer 
well that object. I have, however, made as good a use of the means within my reach, as 
I was able; and I propose now to enter upon the details, as far as I am able at the 
present time, expecting that farther time and opportunity may be given to extend my 
examinations of this important subject, the results of which will in that case appear at the 
close of the volume. 
I. WINTER WHEAT FROM GENESEE COUNTY. 
Received from Mr. Peters. The variety not given. 
Specific gravity ----- 1"289 
PROPORTIONS. 
Grain -.100'000 
Ash. 1-450 
Straw ------- 100-000 
Ash.2-660 
Chaff ------- 100-000 
Ash.- 7-970 
From these proportions, I obtained from the ash of the grain, 
Silica - -- -- -- - 0’075 
Phosphates ------- 0-810 
From the straw, 
Silica - -- -- -- - D285 
Phosphates ------- 0‘070 
From the chaff, 
Silica - 6 -435 
Phosphates ------- 0-080 
The phosphates were obtained by precipitation by caustic ammonia, and hence the full 
amount of phosphoric acid does not appear in the grain. 
