68 



points sought. In a variety of wheat seeming to possess extreme hardiness 

 a number of spikes appeared which showed a tendency toward the club- 

 wheat form. These heads, to the number of 61, were collected and are to 

 be studied during the coming season. Eleven of the heads were appa- 

 rently of exceedingly great productivity. The grain will be planted and 

 the results announced in due time. It is desired to secure a variety in 

 which the spikelets and heads are more completely filled. Experiments 

 in breeding macaroni wheats to secure greater drought resistance are also 

 under way, and a number of other experiments were briefly mentioned. 



William Fawcett, director of Public Grardens, Jamaica, gave a brief 

 account of the plant-breeding work that is being conducted in Jamaica. 

 Naturally the investigations have been conducted on tropical plants. The 

 differences in the chara-ter of the different flower clusters of banana were 

 pointed out. The lower or earlier ones are usually all female, and the ovary 

 is twice the length of the rest of the style. Thos6 next are both male and 

 female, and the last ones to appear are all staminate. If the male flowers 

 be cut from a bunch it results in early ripening and in uniformity of fruit. 

 A number of attempts were made to artificially pollenize the banana, and 

 some seeds were set but they failed to germinate. Experiments were 

 reported in which the Smooth Cayenne and Ripley pineapples were crossed 

 The flowers of the pineapples are said to be almost wholly self-sterile. 

 Many seedlings have been obtained, most of which were intermediate be- 

 tween the parents, but as yet they have not developed valuable characteis. 

 Experiments with mangoes have not yet proved successful. The investi- 

 gations have shown that the Avocada, or alligator pear, may be budded 

 with success. 



The remaining papers of the programme, read by title were as follows : 

 Notes on New Hybi'ids, J. H. Wilson ; Selection v. Hybridism, F. W. Bur- 

 bidge . Some Laws of Plant Breeding, H. J. Webber ; On Variation in 

 Plants, J. B. Norton ; Some Possibilities, C L. Allen ; Fertile Hybrids of 

 Teosinte and Maize, J. W. Harshberger; A Study of Grape Pollen and 

 What the Eesults Indicate, N. 0. Booth ; The Improvement of Corn by 

 Breeding, C. P. Hartley ; Improvement of Crops for Arid Regions and 

 Alkali Soils, T. H. Kearney ; Improvements of Cotton by Breeding. H. J. 

 Webber ; Practical Points from the Breeding of Strawberries and bush 

 Fruits, F. W. Card ; Crossing Species of Salix, S, W. Fletcher ; Notes on 

 Breeding Hardy Apples, J. Craig ; The Ever-bearing Strawberry, P. de 

 Yilmorin ; The Musk-melon, F. W. Rane ; Results in the Breeding of 

 Species of Ricinus, E. M. Wilcox ; On Orchid Hybrids, 0. Ames ; Hybrid 

 Beans, R. A. Emerson ; Hybrid Plums, F. A. Waugh ; Cross Breeding of 

 Cinchonas, H. H. Rusby ; Notes on Plant Breeding in California, E. J. 

 Wickson ; Plant Breeding in New Jersey, B. D. Halsted ; The Wild Hy- 

 brids of the North American Flora, D. George ; Plant Breeding Work in 

 Germany, J. C. Whitten; and Hybrids and Diseases, L. H. Pammel. 



The afternoon session of October 2 was held at the New York Botanic 

 Garden, Bronx Park, where the delegates to the conference were enter- 

 tained as guests of the directors of the garden. On Friday an excursion 

 was given the delegates up the Hudson to Poughkeepsie, in the vicinity 

 of which a number of private estates were visited. 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The usual monthly meeting of the Board was held at Head Quarter 

 House on Tuesday 10th February, 1903 : Present, The Hon. the Colonial 

 Secretary (Chairman), the Hon. the Director of Public Gardens, and His 

 Grace the Archbishop. 



