PEDIGREE - CULTURE 



63 



the history of the particular plant "(i)" which has now be- 

 come "i6", stating among other things how it was polli- 

 nated. Then follows a statement of the characteristics of 

 this plant, and finally, if it has been cross-pollinated, a descrip- 

 tion of the pollen-parent. These cards form a complete and 

 permanent record of all the factors entering into the direct 

 pedigreed lines. They are arranged alphabetically by 

 species, {Oenothera Lamarckiana in this case), then accord- 

 ing to the year number (07 in the example cited) and finally 

 according to the value of the permanent individual pedigree- 

 numbers (16 in the example given). 



Besides the records already mentioned I have an index 

 to the cultures, arranged according to the pedigree-numbers, 

 which saves the necessity of referring to the larger note- 

 books when it is only desired to know what species is con- 

 cerned in a culture bearing any given pedigree-number. The 

 head-gardener has his note-book also in which is noted every 

 act of his which in any way affects the cultures, as seed- 

 sowing, potting, and repotting, transplanting to the garden, 

 all deaths and other casualties, etc. All these notes are en- 

 tered in his note-book affixed to the pedigree-number found 

 on the labels and are arranged chronologically, each note 

 being made at the close of the event recorded and before a 

 new task is taken up, thus insuring that the entries shall rep- 

 resent observations and not remembrances. The Station for 

 Experimental Evolution has been very fortunate in the choice 

 of its head-gardener, and I take pleasure in thus publicly 

 acknowledging my indebtedness to the honesty, faithfulness 

 and accuracy of Mr. Leo Macy for a large measure of the 

 all but perfect control which it has been possible to attain in 

 the plant-breeding work at the Station. 



There is no way in which pedigree-cultures may be 

 carried on for scientific purposes which does not involve the 

 copying of pedigree-numbers, and it is necessary that this 

 work be done with the greatest care. In such work it is well 

 to acquire the habit of looking a second time to see that the 



