HOJRTICULTUBAL DIVISION. 44:1 



In order to keep the stock straight until we determiue II results 

 of a somewhat permanent nature can be obtained, we propose to 

 hold there corns entirely in our own hands for the present. 



It may be worth while to inquire if this Canina com still 

 retains a specific identity, if it really is a distinct species from 

 the common corn, Zea Mays. For myself, I am strongly of the 

 opinion that it is not a distinct species. I aiii rather inrilint^d 

 to think, with the native Mexicans and Professor Duges, that 

 it is the original form of Zea Mays, or at least very near it. It 

 explains many points in the evolution of Indian corn. Wome 

 varieties of sweet corn occasionally produce .•udiinentary muiciple 

 ears, and this Canina seems to tend to lose them under cultivation. 

 The tendency of cultivation in aU 'plants is lo develop some fruits 

 or some organs, rather than all fruits or all organs. 'J'he siicker- 

 ing habit has been discouraged in the selection of corns. The 

 tendency to sucker, the tendency to produce tassels on the ends 

 of ears, the profuse drooping' tassels of many little improved 

 varieties, the predominence of Hint corns northward and of dent 

 or pointed corns southward, the occurrence ol many curious and 

 aboriginal corns in the Aztec region — aU these become inteUigible 

 if Zea canina is the original of Indian corn. 



] 



THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME EGG-PLANT CKOSteES. 



In 1889, three crosses were made among egg-plants, one cross 

 being between Round White and Black Peldn, one between Giant 

 Round Purple and White Chinese, and the other between Long 

 White and Black Pekin, In every case, the parents were veiy 

 unlike, both in shape and color of fruit, and in color of plant. 

 A number of plants were grown from these seeds in 189(», and the 

 charactei's of the resulting offspring were fuUy explained and 

 figured in Bulletin 20, March, 1891. The present report deals 

 with the second generation, grown in 1891. 



The cross, which we called A, was made between Round White 

 and Black Pekin. The Round White is a small green plant 

 which bears small, oblong, clear white, hard fruits. The Black 

 Pekin is a lai'ge, dark purple plant which produces very large, 



56 



