HORTICULTURE. 145 



Records are given of character transmission in a number of Fi plats of 

 corn. One block of a cross between Gold Nugget and Black Mexican, represent- 

 ing a flinty-sugary corn, was grown with reciprocals in alternate rows. Notes 

 taken during the season showed no differences in size and vigor of plants, 

 time of blooming, etc., between the direct and recii^rocal crosses. 



With the view of starting a study relative to the possible effect upon future 

 plants of limiting the number of grains on seed ears, a supply of seed corn was 

 secured from ears on which the development of most of the grains had been 

 prevented by covering up the silk tips with paper bags after they had been 

 exposed for only one day, the bags remaining on the ears until the silk became 

 dry. A viability test was made of corns of various textures and their crosses. 

 The average percentages of viability for the different corns were as follows : 

 Dents, SS.9; pops, 88.4; waxy, 85.5; floury, 84.1; flinty, 81.1; and sugary, 70.3. 

 The viability test was conducted with 25,600 grains divided equally between 

 the starchy and sugary types and from the same set of ears bearing the crossed 

 grains in their second generation. The percentage of viability for the starchy 

 grains was 92.6 as compared with 78.3 for the sugary grains. The results indi- 

 cate that sweet corn is a comparatively weak type. Tests in sprouting the seed 

 under unfavorable conditions show that the starchy grains are much more 

 superior to the sugary grains than the above noted results. Observations on 

 the further growth of the seedlings show that the primary feebleness affects the 

 whole life of the plant to some extent. There was a much greater variability in 

 length of the mesocotyl among seedlings of sugary grains than among those 

 of starchy grains. This variability is greatest when the grains are placed 1 

 in. below the surface of the soil and least when planted 3 in. deep. 



A large number of varieties and crosses of corn were tested as to tlie removal 

 of a portion of the endosperm before planting. The starchy grains did not show 

 any marked reduction in viability, whereas viability among the sweet grains 

 was considerably reduced. The time required to bring the tips of the corn 

 plants to the surface of the soil was not materially changed by mutilating the 

 seed. 



Preliminary notes are given on popability in corn. Tests with variously cut 

 and filed grains show that any interference with the corneous envelope produces 

 a weak place and prevents the full explosion caused by the heat. The degree of 

 ripeness of the grains was also found to influence their explosiveness. Where 

 three ears were taken from the same stalk the oldest ear gave the highest and 

 the youngest ear the lowest of fully popped grains. The largest degree of 

 popability is likewise associated with the heaviest grains and greatest volume 

 and specific gravity. A test for the influences of the shape of grain upon popa- 

 bility was made in connection with size and dentedness. The data secured show 

 that the shape, whether round, flat, or dented, determines the popability in the 

 cross much more than size. It is further noted that the factor for general shape 

 and that for tip shape when all the grains are considered are of the same deter- 

 mining power. 



In the work with peppers special prominence was given to the Golden Queen- 

 Red Cluster cross in its second generation. This cross is discussed with refer- 

 ence to the occurrence of standard and dwarf plants, single and fascicled foliage, 

 large and small leaves, color of the fruit, size and shape of the fruit, position 

 of the fruit on the plant, flavor of the fruit, thickness of the fruit wall, seed 

 cavities of the fruit, size of the seeds, and prolificness of the plants. Records 

 are also given of a number of Fs pepper crosses. Among general observations 

 on Fs crosses it was found that with some of these crosses the inheritance of 

 character is continuous, while with others it appears discontinuous. Barrenness 



