The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-12-31
Organic and Inorganic Elements Of
Cereal Grain.

All cereal grain is composed both Of
organic and Inorganic substances. The
termination ~ seeds, the growth Of the
plants and the modification Of the seed
all depend ON certain organs denominat-
ed the organic structure Of the plants.
The inorganic elements consist of those
substances which are sometimes alluded
to as the mineral parts or atoms. Some
writer's employ the term vegetable in
lieu Of organic, and mineral in prefer
cncc To inorganic. A writer in the
Scientific -iHerican states that growing
plants require two kinds Of food, yegeta-
bic and mineral, or rather organic and in
organic, a the former constituents are
also 70 be obtained from animal matter,
and the inorganic matter i found IN the
soil and in the air.
ANALYTICAL chemists assure Us that Of
the mineral or inorganic matter Of cere-
all. water constitutes fourteen per cent,
while the principal constituent of wheat,
phosphoric acid j. present 10 the ex-
tent Of 1921 per cent, potash being
81 80 aud silica only al. The silica
of wheat l. Identical with the widely
din'used silica Of sand and flnts, and j.
combined in cereal products with alkali,
in which il is soluble. Silica, taken
alone into the animal system, would
pass directly through the bowels
Hence, To secure IL assimilation 10 the
human body, it must be connected with
potash or soda. But il can be recover
ed from its solutions BY putting nitric
acid in the mixture, when il will separ-
ate in the form Of solid flint. The ash
OF some wheat contains nearly ten per
cent. Of silica. Silicaic Of potash
may be seen in the glaze on
straw Phosphorus and lime are the
chief bone making elements in cereals,
bones being nearly one half composed
Of phosphate Of lime. Artificial phos-
pilates Of lime are largely used a ma
nure for wheat. There are two kinds
Of phosphate, soluble and insoluble. The
insoluhle phosphate takes years 10 de-
compose: therefore, ia order 10 grow
wheat by H.. il must be converted into
soluble phosphate, such a. the super
pho ~phate familiar % our agricultural
readers.
Wheat, oats, rye. barley and Indian
corn are cereals which WELD an the
principles requisite 10 build up the hui
man frame. Some other plants make
fai-forming matter. Others merely
afford acids. which assist the digestion
of food Among the latter are the vari-
Gus fruits. particularly the grape, 50
much recommended 70 the invalid, the
acid Of the grape being the active agent.
But in wheat and oats, barley and rye,
we meet with every substance necessary
for the staff Of human life. IL We take
grain of wheat or other cereal and
burn il in gas flame we find that
only portion Of il Is con-umable. The
understandable portion that remains j.
termed he ash, which j. the mineral or
inorganic portion. The consumable
portion is organic or eombustible COM
pound Of vegetable matter, the proper
ton being ninety-four per cent. Of prin-
cipaly vegetable matter, and from one
TO six per cent Of mineral matter. Theor-
ganic constituents Of wheat, oats and 9TH
er grain are the woody fibre, stare h, sugar,
gum and oil, and after these the two nj
trogenous substances, the albumen and
the gluten. which contain large quanti-
ties Of nitrogen, these latter being the
e~h-forming substances in wheat. The
others are the fat-forming substances.
The mineral ash contains the cOnstitu-
ent~ which are necessary for building
up the structure Of men and animals. ~
". y. III r1h