8l>6 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



and tlic red currant tomato (L. esculentum) was found to be due to the peculiar 

 formation of the pistil of the red currant variety. 



The pistil of this variety is considerably smaller than that <>f the yellow plum, and 

 has the further peculiarity of being constricted and placed in a slight depression in 



the ovary. The pistil is so small and slender at this point that when the blossom is 

 emasculated and the pistil thus deprived of the protection of the surrounding stamens, 

 it was easily affected by changes of temperature and moisture which in most cases- 

 proved fatal. 



When the ordinary methods of covering the flowers were employed it was found 

 impossible to keep the pistil fresh in the receptive period long enough for the pollen 

 of the yellow variety to do its work. When the whole plant was covered with bell 

 jars, thus securing a better control of temperature and moisture conditions) successful 

 crosses were made. The difficulty, therefore, which has been previously experienced 

 in securing reciprocal crosses with these plants seems to he a mechanical one and 

 due to the delicate structure of the pistil of the red currant variety. 



In the case of squashes crosses were easily secured when Golden Custard was 

 fertilized from the pollen of the Crookneck variety, hut the pollen of < I olden Custard 

 would not act upon the pistils of the Crookneck variety. The author pollinated 2S4 

 pistils of the Crookneck squash with the pollen of Golden Custard. About one-third 

 of this number were picked off at various stages for microscopical studies. The 

 remainder were left on the vines as long as they remained intact. In the histological 

 study of the pistils which were picked off it was found that pollen of < rolden ( 'ustard 

 germinated on pistils of Crookneck and usually penetrated nearly to the germ cell of 

 the ovary. There it stopped growth. Fertilization did not occur. The reason for 

 the failure appeared to be a refusal of the embryo of Crookneck to he impregnated 

 by pollen spores of the Custard variety. 



Some of the pistils which had been left on the vines matured fruits, and when 

 these were cut open in some cases many seeds were found. < )f the 200 pistils left on 

 the vines, IS well-formed fruits were obtained, and of these IS fruits ."> produced fer- 

 tile seeds. The experiments therefore seemed to indicate that "Golden Custard 

 pollen varies in its degree of potency and shows all possible stages, ranging from 

 perfect fertility to perfect sterility," as was shown "in the decay of Crookneck pis- 

 tils when pollinated with Golden Custard, in microscopical sections of such pistils, 

 in the partial and complete development of fruit and seed, and in the sterility and 

 fertility of seed." A bibliography of 32 papers on plant breeding is included. 



Culture of asparagus in warm countries, 0. Labboy (Jour. Ayr. Trap., 4 

 (1904), No. 39, pp. 259-864). — This article summarizes the results which have been 

 secured in a number of different tropical countries in the culture of asparagus. The 

 conclusion is reached that asparagus succeeds in all those tropical countries where it 

 is assured of a rest period in its growth, although the plantation is not as durable as 

 in more temperate climates, and the young stalks are less valuable. In order to 

 secure the best results it is necessary that the plants be cultivated in rich, deep soils 

 and heavily manured and cultivated during their vegetative period. 



The chayote {Queensland Agr. Jour., 15 (1904), No. 3, /». 625, pi. 1).— It is stated 

 that within the past 2 or ;! years this vegetable has become recognized by the general 

 public in Queensland as an excellent table vegetable. It thrives remarkably well 

 and is noted as one of the most prolific bearers among the Cucurbitaceae. It isgrown 

 in large quantities also for feeding dairy cattle, pigs, and horses. Four hundred fruits 

 have been gathered from a single vine in one season. No disease of any kind has 

 been known to attack the plant in Queensland as yet. It is prepared by cutting the 

 fruit in half, boiling it. and serving with pepper, salt, and melted butter. 



Facts about ginseng culture for fruit growers, G. C. Rutz (Pennsylvania State 

 Dept. Agr. Rpt. 1903, pp. 800-803). — This paper is in part a summary from the 

 author's bulletin on this subject (E. 8. R,, 14, p. 861). A word of caution is added 



