2^8 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK* 



Hnnn (I) X I,deal (P), perfect 21, imperfect 9. 



McKinley (P) X Ridgeway (P), perfect 15, imperfect none. 



These observations seem to show a fairly equal division in influence of the 

 two parents in the matter of sex. 



A few general notes upon seedlings of different crosses may be of interest. 



Wm. Belt X Wild strawberry. Plants of this cross all possess the char- 

 acteristics of the wild plant, making an abundance of runners, with compara- 

 tively small foliage. The characteristics of the wild fruit also persist, though 

 with an increase in size and some variation in shape. The deeply set seeds and 

 sharp corrugations, with bright color and a pronounced wild flavor, exist in all. 

 One plant in particular showed a promising increase in size of fruit with a 

 very desirable form. 



Hunn X Ideal. Behind this label we always expect a sturdy, low-growing 

 plant with dark green foliage, bearing a short, roundish, dark red berry, with 

 dark red flesh, rather sprightly in flavor, and ripening late. An occasional 

 variation both in color of fruit and foliage occurs, but in the main the type is 

 well marked. 



Crescent X Glen Mary follows Crescent closely in general characteristics, 

 the fruits usually being even smaller. 



Glen Mary X Ridgeway has produced a strong, vigorous plant, rather 

 light in color, fruit rather long and sometimes flattened, light colored and 

 sweet. 



McKinley X Ridgeway produces light colored fruit, long and flattened at 

 the apex; sweet, but rather lacking in sprightliness. In marked contrast to 

 this general type, one plant produced very short, round fruit, almost as round 

 as an apple, but possessing other general characeristics of the cross. 



The plants show considerable difi^erence in their ability to resist rust. The 

 Wm. Belt X Wild seedlings are oarticularly susceptible. Among other varie- 

 ties, here and there a plant would stand out in marked contrast with the rest 

 of its family. 



No second generation plants have yet been fruited, so that it is impossible 

 to speak of variations in the second generation. 



The chief difficulty to be overcome in obtaining desirable varieties by 

 crossing lies in the large number of characters desired. These embrace vigor 

 of plant and leaf, plant-making ability, resistance to rust, hardiness, pro- 

 ductiveness, size of fruit, color, shape, including the way in which the hull is 

 set, firmness, flavor, season of ripening, etc. Whether Mendel's law is a fact 

 or a fad, it is difficult to combine all these characters which are desirable in 

 one berry. There is abundant room for advance. Our best berries are still 

 deficient in some points. 



