THE ASSOCIATION OF CHARACTERS 



79 



paring these with the industrial value of the varieties it has 

 been discovered that stiff and erect main branches building 

 a dense tip on the panicle are indicative of the richest har- 

 vest and of the best kind of kernels. Varieties with loose 

 flexuous branches are usually only poor yielders. The 



Fig. 85. Barley. A. A complete spikelet with the three flowers. B 

 and C. Single flowers seen from different sides, showing two palets, three 

 stamens, and the ovary with the stigmas. In B also the two outer scales 

 or glumae with the stigmas. D. Stamens and ovary of a flower. 



number of the grains in the single spikelets affords another 

 instance. It is correlated by distinct laws to the size of the 

 kernels, and through this mark to the industrial value of the 

 variety. Moreover these numbers are "strictly hereditary and 

 so give very reliable marks. Oats and wheat especially 



