PLANT BREEDERS FIND NEW TOBACCO HYBRID 





ISEW TOBACCO HYBRID KJNOWJN AS MOISTCOMERY SEEDLEAF 



Seed plants after harvesting the remainder of the tobacco. This crop yielded 2,750 pounds 

 per acre. Montgomery Secdleaf is a cross between Washington (Ohio) Seedleaf and 

 Big Graham. They have erect leaves in strong contrast to the parent varieties, both of 

 which are of decidedly drooping habit. (Fig. 7.) 



From a .series of plant-breeding tests 

 with t(jbacco varieties started by the 

 Ohio Experiment Station in 1903, a 

 hybrid known as Montgomery Seed- 

 leaf has proven to be superior to com- 

 mon strains The intercross has been 

 developed so as to increase the size and 

 number of leaves without bringing in 

 serious drawlKicks such as weakness of 

 stalk and susceptibility to drouth. 



This variety, which has been de- 

 veloped at the Southwestern Test Farm, 

 Germantown, has also been grown in a 

 commercial manner by tobacco men in 

 that section. The selected strain took 

 first premium at the Darke County Fair 

 in competition witli a class of seventeen 

 entries. In the green stage the stalks 

 are alK)Ut three feet in length. 



The yields of the new hybrid are 

 superior to the common strains of 

 tobacco, one instance being recorded of 

 more than 2.(X)() poiunls to the acre. 



,^54 



In further description of the new 

 hybrid, Mr. True Hauser, Assistant 

 Botanist at the Ohio Experiment Sta- 

 tion, contributes the following to the 

 Journal of Hkredity : 



The Montgomery Seedleaf (Hybrid 

 No. 199) is a cross of Washington 

 (Ohio) Seedleaf by Big Graham. The 

 strains which are propagated have erect 

 growing leaves, in strong contrast to the 

 ])arent varieties, both of which are of 

 decidedly drooping habit. This new 

 variety is very drouth resistant. It does 

 not readily bloom during severe dry 

 weather but resiunes vigorous growtli 

 after the drouth is broken. This ten- 

 dancy makes it necessary, some years. 

 to top the plants before the buds have 

 formed. At the Test Farm we have 

 fre(|uently obtained yields of more than 

 .^.000 pounds per acre and in some in- 

 stances over two tons exclusive of 

 trash. 



