The sugar is only accumulated as a result of an incapacity of
changing it into starch, and the lack of this capacity is to be
considered as a retrogressive varietal mark. The starch-producing unit
character, which is active in the ordinary sorts of corns, is therefore
latent in sugar-corn.
In order to obtain the second generation, the hybrid grains are sown
under ordinary conditions, but sufficiently distant from any other
variety of corn to insure pure fertilization. The several individuals
may be left to pollinate [290] each other, or they may be artificially
pollinated with their own pollen.
The outcome of the experiments is shown by the spikes, as soon as they
dry. Each spike bears two sorts of kernels irregularly dispersed over
its surface. In this point all the spikes are alike. On each of them one
may see on the first inspection that the majority of the kernels are
starch-containing seeds, while a minor part becomes wrinkled and
transparent according to the rule for sugary seeds. This fact shows at
once that the hybrid race is not stable, but has differentiated the
parental characters, bringing those of the varietal parent to perfect
purity and isolation. Whether the same holds good for the starchy
parent, it is impossible to judge from the inspection of the spikes,
since it has been seen in the first generation that the hybrid kernels
are not visibly distinguished from those of the pure starch-producing
grains.
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