Bran, the outer coating of the wheat, contains twice or three times as
much fiber as does either of the other products from wheat, and
proportionately less of each of the other ingredients except ash,
which is greater, perhaps partly due to foreign matter adhering to the
kernel. The following analysis shows the amount of constituents
removed by the bran (10 lb.) from one bushel of wheat:
Lb. per Bushel
of Wheat.
Water. 1.459
Ash. 0.506
Albuminoids. 1.416
Woody fiber. 1.000
Carbo-hydrates (starchy matters). 5.277
Ash. 0.342
From the foregoing milling products obtained from one bushel of wheat
of 60 lb. in weight, the ash on analysis gave the following
constituents, which shows the amount that was abstracted from the soil
by its growth:
_____________________________________________________
|
CONSTITUENTS FROM ONE BUSHEL OF WHEAT. |
_____________________________________________________|
| | | | |
|Nitrogen.|Phosphoric| Potash. | Lime. |
| | Acid. | | |
| | | | |
+---------+----------+---------+---------+
| | | | |
Flour. | 0.739 | 0.092 | 0.054 | 0.013 |
Middlings. | 0.105 | 0.064 | 0.024 | 0.002 |
Shipstuff. | 0.056 | 0.044 | 0.021 | 0.003 |
Bran. | 0.228 | 0.251 | 0.083 | 0.012 |
+---------+----------+---------+---------+
Totals. | 1.118 | 0.454 | 0.182 | 0.030 |
____________|_________|__________|_________|_________|
Or we may express the results in another form, the amount contained in
one ton of straw, and the products of 30 bushels of wheat, which may
be reckoned as an average crop, expressing the amounts in pounds as
follows:
AMOUNTS OF SELECTED CONSTITUENTS IN THIRTY
BUSHELS OF WHEAT AND ITS PROPORTION OF
STRAW.
_____________________________________________________
| | | | |
|Nitrogen.|Phosphoric| Potash. | Lime. |
| | Acid. | | |
| | | | |
+---------+----------+---------+---------+
| | | | |
Straw. | 11.20 | 2.67 | 13.76 | 6.20 |
Flour. | 22.17 | 2.76 | 1.62 | 0.39 |
Middlings. | 3.15 | 2.01 | 0.72 | 0.06 |
Shipstuff. | 1.68 | 1.32 | 0.63 | 0.09 |
Bran. | 6.84 | 7.53 | 2.49 | 0.36 |
+---------+----------+---------+---------+
Totals. | 45.04 | 16.29 | 19.22 | 7.10 |
____________|_________|__________|_________|_________|
From numerous investigations it has been found that in regard to the
nitrogen and the ash constituents, there is striking evidence of the
much greater influence of season than of manuring on the composition
of a ripened wheat plant, and especially of its final product--the
seed. Further, under equal circumstances the mineral composition of
the wheat grain, excepting in cases of very abnormal exhaustion, is
very little affected by different conditions as to manuring, provided
only that the grain is well and normally ripened. Again, it is found
that the composition may vary very greatly with variations of season,
that is, with variations in the conditions of seed formation and
maturation, upon which the organic composition of the grain depends.
In other words, differences in the mineral composition of the ripened
grain are associated with differences in its organic composition, and
hence the great value of proper selection both for seed and for
milling purposes.