Embryo and A leurone Layer of Hordeum . 1151 
of amylase found in the case of anaesthetized inner endosperms is practically 
the same as that found in similarly constituted cultures with unanaesthetized 
inner endosperms, how are these results to be interpreted with regard to the 
question of the possession or otherwise of vitality by the inner endosperm ? 
I. Cultures of endosperms and inner endosperms on gelatine media. 
In the following experiments, which furnish concrete examples of the 
foregoing proposition, either nitrobenzene or chloroform was plenteously 
mingled with the medium prior to placing the objects in it. It was 
necessary, on account of the volatility of chloroform, to make fresh additions 
of this reagent every twenty-four hours: nitrobenzene, being less volatile, 
proved to be an excellent reagent in experiments of this kind. 
TABLE XXII. 
Cultures of Endosperms and Inner Endosperms on 5 % Gelatine- 
Mineral Salts with Varying Concentrations of KH 2 P 0 4 , 
in Presence of Nitrobenzene. 
Chilian barley seeds. 
18 days. 
Exp. Objects. 
(1) Absolute alcohol, 48 hours; (2) water, 48 hours. Culture period 
Amylase per 20 objects per Reducing sugars 
Concentration hour in :— per 20 objects in :— 
of KH%PO± in Medium. Objects. Total. Medium. Objects. 
(equivalent to mg. of Cu .) 
1. 5 endosperms P 3 
2. 5 inner endosperms P s 
3- » >) Ei 
4 - » )> E2 
2559 — — 25 21 
2 349 — — OOO 0-00 
2066 337 2403 — — 
2215 337 2 55 2 — ~ 
The amounts of amylase found in the culture media in the above series 
of experiments, it will be observed, are of practically the same order of 
magnitude. The fact is significant, because it shows that the direct result 
of the action of these anaesthetics is to suppress almost completely the secretory 
powers of the aleurone layer (Experiment 1), and to reduce the endosperm , 
considered as a generator of amylase, to the level of the inner endosperm. 
TABLE XXIII. 
Cultures of Endosperms and Inner Endosperms on 5% 
Gelatine-Mineral Salts (P 3 ) in Presence of Chloroform. 
Culture period, 12 days. Chilian barley—objects prepared as below. 
Reducing sugars 
Exp. 
Objects. 
per hour in: 
Medium. Objects. 
Total. 
per 20 objects in :— 
Medium . Objects. 
(equivalent to mg. of Cu.) 
1. 
5 inner endosperms 
2489 527 
3016 
— 
0*00 
2. 
>> y> 
2489 295 
2784 
— 
0-00 
3 - 
5 endosperms 
886 950 
1836 
85 
0-00 
Experiment 1. Inner endosperms prepared from endosperms steeped successively in (1) absolute 
alcohol, (2) water. 48 hours in each reagent. 
Experiment 2. Inner endosperms prepared from air-dried seeds & steeped as in Experiment 1. 
Experiment 3. Endosperms from air-dried seeds steeped as in Experiment 1. 
4 F 2 
