10 March, 1916.] Researches on Wheat Selection. 



143 



In all over 1,500 separate weighings were made, involving forty- 

 three ears of wheat. Two outstanding features were noted: — 



1. The weights of the individual kernels towards either extremity 

 of the ear, and particularly towards the apex, were invariably less than 

 the kernels in the middle of the ear. 



2. Where three or more grains were produced on the one spikelet 

 the tendency was for one of the inner or median kernels to suffer in its 

 development; hence it was found that, as an almost invariable rule, 

 the grains in the centre of the spikelets are lesser in weight, impoverished, 

 and, if they happen to germinate, produce inferior plants. 



These points are graphically illustrated in the diagrams : — 



55 MILLIGRAMS 

 40APEX0FEAR 



38 



BASEOFEAR 



20 25 30 35 40 45 50 



WEIGHTS or CHAINS JN MILLIGRAMS 



Fig. 3.— Graph of weights of individual grains of a typical ear of Federation 

 Wheat (See also Fig, 1). 



