A STUDY OF WHEAT. 



43 



of some of the grains gives them a general resemblance to the 

 blood discs of the mammalia, according to Hassell. The de- 

 pressions are due to the evaporation of more moisture from 

 the center of the grain than from any other portion. The 

 starch grains developed in the outer part of the kernel of corn 

 are much more angular than are those of the central part. The 

 angular appearance of these grains is due to the way in which 

 they are packed in the cells, each accommodating himself to 

 his neighbor. So they look when taken out as soft pills would 

 look were a number packed together in a small place. They 

 are without a definite shape and yet air having the same gen- 



Fig. 5. Outer layer , of Cells filled with Albumen. Magnified 200 



Diameters. 



eral appearance. They are never found forming definite com- 

 pound bodies as in the oat and buckwheat, as we will see 

 later. 



The starch grains of Indian corn average about ygVo f 

 an inch in diameter, and there is quite a uniformity of size 

 among the different grains as compared with the starch grains 

 of potato. 



When these starch grains are examined under polarized 

 light well defined crosses are seen, the arms of the cross ra- 

 diating from the nucleus at the center. of the grain instead of 

 from one side, as in the potato starch. When subjected to 

 dry heat the shape of the grain is but little changed, while if 



