June i6, 1923 
Factors Affecting Nitrogen Content of Wheat 
949 
of the kernel, it should be noted that there were times when very little in¬ 
crease in weight was obtained while at other periods considerable gain was 
observed. On the whole, it should be noted that the kernels of wheat 
kept on increasing in weight up to the period when the percentage of 
moisture dropped to approximately 40. This period is sometimes spoken 
of as the period of desiccation. The slight fluctuations on the downward 
curve are probably due to variations occurring in method of sampling 
Fig. I.— Relative moisture content of wheat kernels during growth 
which at this period would be more noticeable, because the kernels were 
heavier, even though the errors were probably not any greater than those 
during the preceding periods of sampling. Any increase in nitrogen 
content must precede a period when the kernels contain 40 per cent 
or more moisture. In the period of embryo development there is con¬ 
siderable moisture in the grain. We also know that in the period of 60 
per^cent or more of moisture, the simpler forms of nitrogen material are 
