220 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXVII, No. 4 
expanded to include a biological analysis of the wild rice. The first part 
of the investigation was therefore confined to the chemical composition 
of the cereal. Four samples of rice were secured for analysis, two being 
obtained in the local markets and two direct from the Indians in the 
region of the Minnesota rice lakes. Three of these samples were of quite 
uniform appearance, consisting of slender cylindrical kernels varying 
from one-half inch to nearly one inch in length, and were of a dark slate 
color. The remaining sample (No. 2) was quite different in its physical 
appearance, the kernels being very long and thick, and many of the 
grains being parched to such a degree that they resembled puffed cereals. 
Table I shows the results of the analysis of the four samples of wild 
rice, and, for comparison, an analysis of a polished and an unpolished 
cultivated rice. It is seen that the proportions of protein and soluble 
carbohydrates in the wild rice are considerably greater than in either 
sample of the cultivated variety. The soluble carbohydrates of the rice 
are probably formed in large measure during the parching process which 
is commonly used in removing the hulls. The ether extract of the wild 
variety is approximately double that of the polished cultivated rice, 
but considerably less than that of the unpolished cultivated variety. 
Much of the embryo is doubtless removed in the wild rice by the parching 
process to which kernels are subjected in order to remove the hulls, but, 
since the parching process is not at all uniform, the embryo is not entirely 
removed, as it is in the polishing of the cultivated rice. 
The amount of inorganic material is considerably higher in the case 
of the wild rice than in that of the cultivated rice. Table II shows the 
distribution of the inorganic elements in the ash of the two varieties. 
For comparison, an analysis of dried skim milk is also included in this 
table. 
Table I. —Comparison of chemical composition of wild rice and cultivated rice 
Sample No. 
Moisture. 
Ash. 
Protein. 
Ether 
extract. 
Fiber. 
Starch. 
1 ....... 
Soluble 
carbohy¬ 
drates as 
dextrose. 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
Per cent. 
7 - 74 
I.09 
13- 36 
°-455 
I- 39 
65. 26 
2. 98 
7-85 
l. 38 
13- 97 
•893 
I. 41 
61. 69 
3 - 69 
3 . 
8-93 
I. 17 
14. 62 
.718 
I. 94 
60. 47 
2. 33 
4 . 
7-83 
1-25 
14. 40 
-658 
I. 29 
62.03 
293 
Cultivated unpol¬ 
ished rice. 
12 . 22 
I. 01 
5 -P 4 
2 . OI 
I. 08 
69. 50 
•85 
Cultivated polished 
rice 
12. 30 
. 40 
i 
8. 0 
•30 
. 20 
79. 00 
Table II. —Distribution of inorganic elements in wild and cultivated rice in comparison 
with dry skim milk 
Substances compared. 
Ca. 
| Mg. 
K. 
Na. 
f 
P. 
S. 
Wild rice. 
Cultivated polished rice. 
Dry skim milk;. 
Per cent. 
O. Ol8 
0. 008 
i- 33 ! 
; Per cent. 
0. 080 
O. 027 
O. 147 
Per cent. 
O.055 
O. 069 
I. 27 
Per cent. 
O. 064 
0. 021 
0. 488 
! 
Per cent. 
0. 424 
0. 102 
0.979 
Per cent. 
O.252 
O. 105 
0.357 
