^ Observations on the Inheritance of Characters in Zea Mays. 263 
Eedj^'^"' ^^-^ = 73-73% 
(Sugar 19-57 j 
WhiteP*^"' l^-^O'H = 26-27% 
( Sugar 6-97 
= 100% 
We should expect to find approxiraately the following proportions of 
each combination : — 
Red Grains. White Grains. 
Dent grains 75% of 75% = 56-25% and 75% of 25% = 18-75% 
Sugar grains 25% of 75% = 18-75% and 25% of 25% = 6-25% 
or — 
^ jDent 56-25%l 
^^^i Sugar 18-75 T ^^^^ 
jDent 18-75%) 050/ 
W^^^^^ Sugar 6-25 T ^^^^ 
100% 
For such a small total number of grains (373) the actual figures are 
remarkably close to the expected, and sufficiently so to be of practical use 
to the breeder. 
II. 
ROW-NUMBEKS IN MAIZE EARS. 
It is well known among maize-growers that the number of rows of 
grain on an ear of maize varies from 8 to 24 or even more, according to the 
breed ; also that in the same breed the number may vary within certain 
limits, e.g., 8, 10 or 12 in some breeds, 12, 14, 16 or 18 in others, and 18, 
20, 22 or 24 in yet others. In some breeds the range of variation is even 
greater than this, while in others it seems to be more closely limited. 
In some breeds an ear carrying more than 8 rows is considered untrue 
to type, but I am not aware that any South African grower has yet 
succeeded in fixing the number of rows in any breed so that no variation 
occurs in that respect. In the course of a series of breeding experiments 
which are not yet complete, I have met with the following interesting 
case : — 
Thirty-three plants of Arcadia sugar-maize each of which bore two 
well-developed ears, were studied as regards number of rows. On 21 
plants the number on the upper ear was different from that on the lower, 
while on 12 plants the number was the same on each ear. Of the 21 
plants of which the number of rows differed on the two ears, 13 had a 
larger number on the lower than on the upper, while 8 had a smaller 
number on the lower than on the upper. The distribution of rows was as 
follows : — 
