44G Report of the Department of Horticulture of the 



twenty-six for discarding. Ben Davis X Mcintosh gave two 

 desirable varieties, three for further testing and six for discard- 

 ing. Ben Davis X Green Newtown gave four desirable varieties 

 from thirteen seedlings. Esopus X Jonathan gave one for fur- 

 ther testing, one for discarding and Mcintosh X Lawver pro- 

 duced one individual which is still retained for further test. The 

 Northern Spy crosses have done well, for Sutton X Northern 

 Spy gave two worthy of propagation, three worthy of further 

 testing and none for discarding. Ralls X Northern Spy produced 

 one desirable variety, one worthy of further consideration and 

 seven undesirables; and Rome X Northern Spy gave one of no 

 special merit. 



13. Varieties named, after counties in the State, described and 

 distributed, are: Clinton, Cortland, Herkimer, Nassau, Onon- 

 daga, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenec- 

 tady, Schoharie, Tioga and Westchester. 



14. The behavior of the crosses in this experiment gives some 

 indications of how certain characters are transmitted when found 

 in the varieties involved and forms a basis therefore, for breeding 

 work with these varieties, and suggests, at least, how the char- 

 acters discussed will behave in other varieties that may be used 

 in breeding. 



15. The chief difficulties in the application of Mendelian prin- 

 ciples to the breeding of apples are likely to be: i. The deter- 

 mination of the factors by which the various characters are 

 transmitted. 2. Complications arising when a character skips a 

 generation — does not appear in the F^ generation. 3. It is pos- 

 sible that some characters may be linked together in transmis- 

 sion and that others will repel each other. 4. The bringing to- 

 gether of complementary characters may result in reversions and 

 thus produce unexpected characters. 5. The breeder will not be 

 able to obtain new characters by working with Mendelian char- 

 acters nor augment those that exist if we possibly except size 

 and vigor. 6. It will be necessary to work with large num.bers of 

 plants — diiftcult with apples. 7. Disappointments will often 

 come from the attempt to work with fluctuating variations. 

 8. There is likely to be much confusion between " simple Men- 

 delian characters " and " blending characters." 



