438 Report of the Department of Horticulture of the 



development of plants and fruits. However, as the drop in yield 

 occurred in all the crosses and varieties in about the same pro- 

 portion, the results remain comparable. The maximum yield per 

 plant of the Fi generation was over five pounds less than the sum- 

 mer of 1908, and the maximum yield per plant of the Livingston 

 Stone, a little over three pounds less ; consequently, the difference 

 in yield of these two lots in the summer of 1909 was only 2.328 

 pounds, while in the summer of 1908 it amounted to 4.438 

 pounds. The difference, however, in jaeld of the Dwarf Aris- 

 tocrat and the first generation obtained in 1908 is practically 

 identical with the difference obtained in 1909, the former being 

 10.558 pounds and the later 10,34 pounds. Even with a small 

 difference between the standard plants, of 2.328 pounds per plant, 

 one would obtain an increase of over three tons per acre, that is, 

 if the same increase held for 2,722 plants. These differences 

 apply only to the total yield of the plants. The difference in 

 yield of only ripe fruits is less marked, but nevertheless, worthy 

 of consideration. In 1908 the ripe fruit per plant of the Fi gen- 

 eration exceeded the Livingston Stone by over 1.6 pounds, and 

 in 1909 the difference was over .2.7 pounds — a gain of over 

 one pound in favor of the later year, and in 1910 there was a 

 gain of 1.17 pounds. 



The Fi generation cross in 1910 yielded nearly three pounds 

 more per plant than the Livingston Stone and nearly thirteen 

 more pounds per plant than the Dwarf Aristocrat. The ripe 

 fruit of the Fi generation, as already noted, exceeded that of the 

 Livingston Stone and this difference would have increased 

 materially if the season had been longer, for the experiment 

 closed with more green fruit on the vines of the former than on 

 those of the latter. 



In consideration of the increased yield of the hybrid or crossed 

 tomato plants, particularly those of the Fi generation, and since 

 the ripening season was materially advanced, there is little ques- 

 tion but that the crossing of tomato varieties is a sound commer- 

 cial proposition. 



