The starchy grains remain smooth, but
the sugary kernels lose so much water that they become wrinkled. The
former becomes opaque, the latter more or less transparent. Every single
kernel may instantly be recognized as belonging to either of the types
in question, even if but a single grain of the opposite quality might be
met with on a spike. Kernels can be counted on the spike, and since
ordinary spikes may bear from 300-500 grains and often more, the
numerical relation of the different types may be deduced with great
accuracy.
Coming now to our experiment, both starchy [289] and sugary varieties
are in this respect wholly constant, when cultivated separately. No
change is to be seen in the spikes. Furthermore it is very easy to make
the crosses. The best way is to cultivate both types in alternate rows
and to cut off the staminate panicles a few days before they open their
first flowers. If this operation is done on all the individuals of one
variety, sparing all the panicles of the other, it is manifest that all
the plants will become fertilized by the latter, and hence that the
castrated plants will only bear hybrid seeds.
The experiment may be made in two ways; by castrating the sugary or the
starchy variety. In both cases the hybrid kernels are the same. As to
their composition they repeat the active character of the starchy
variety.
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