PLANT BREEDING AND HYBRIDIZATION. 217 



thcmums the best results have been obtained, it was said, when only 

 double forms were used for parent stocks. The hj^bridizing of bego- 

 nias Avas also commented upon, and the origin of a number of the finest 

 new varieties was indicated. Attention w^as called to the fact that La 

 France, claimed to be the parent of many new varieties, is absolutely 

 sterile in some countries. 



The results of experiments in crossing pumpkins were described by 

 L. H. Bailey, of Cornell University, in a paper entitled A Medley 

 of Pumpkins. The author began a series of experiments in 1887, 

 which was continued for 10 years, to determine the immediate effect 

 of pollen on fruit. After a number of j^ears' investigation, no imme- 

 diate effect of pollen could be recognized on cucurbit fruits. The 

 experiments were continued, however, to see what would be the 

 result of crossing 2 varieties of squash. These varieties were hand 

 pollinated, the seed saved, and in the third generation the plants 

 occupied between 8 and 10 acres. Of the product examined, fully 

 1,500 forms were noted which did not resemble either parent in form 

 or shape. The plants seemed to be almost wholly self-sterile to their 

 own pollen. The seed of one form, designated as Alpha, when 

 planted, gave 110 distinct kinds of fruits and innumerable interme- 

 diates. The parent stock of this experiment w^as pedigreed and 

 usually came true to type, but the progeny resulting from crossing- 

 was so variable as to give nearl}^ as many types as there were individ- 

 uals. New characters continually appeared in the second and third 

 generations, and the confusion became so great that the experiment 

 was abandoned. Another experiment was described, in which one of 

 the small ornamental pear gourds was crossed with pollen from the 

 typical Connecticut pumpkin. From the seed secured, 31) plants 

 resulted and no two fruits were identical. Nineteen forms were 

 found that were fairly well marked, and these were described as 

 types. In all the experiments seedlessness seemed to be a conmion 

 trait of crossed cucurbits, or if seed were produced they were ordi- 

 narily sterile. An attempt was made to reciprocally cross Cncurhita 

 fejjo^ C. maxima^ and C. moschata. Only 8 fruits were obtained, 

 and those, species hybrids, were l)etwa^en ('. 2>('P" '^'^^ ^- v//as<:'//c/^«. 

 The progen}" grown from these seed were more uniform in character 

 than those obtained by crosses in the varieties of C. j^epo. Continuing 

 this w^ork through a miml)er of generations, the moschata type entirel}' 

 disappeared and the plants were to all appearances C pe2)o. 



Results of Hybridization and Plant Breeding in Canada was the title 

 of a paper presented by William Saunders, director of the Canada 

 Experimental Farms. He gave a brief resume of 40 years' work in 

 Canada along the line of production of new varieties of fruits, cereals, 

 etc. His work with wheat, oats, barley, and various fruits was 

 described, the methods of manipulation being given in considerable 



