EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT. 295 



rience may teach that the desired end may be reached by a gradual 

 approach instead of the attempt to strike averages between 

 extremes. 



The "Magnus" Crosses. 



'I'he "Magnus" variety of tomato has always shown good 

 qualities of plant and fruit upon the Breeding Grounds, and the 

 present season it entered into forty crosses. The apple shape of 

 the fruit and its thick wall is often strongly impressed upon the 

 cross as evidenced in "Magnerosa," which is a combination of 

 this variety with the "Ponderosa." 



Some good results have come from breeding the "Magnus" 

 with the "Dwarf Champion" and with the "Yellow Prince." Two 

 crossed plants this season had the coarse ("potato") foliage of 

 the "Magnus" and the yellow fruit of the other parent. With 

 "Alice Roosevelt," a fruit of fine size and length was obtained, 

 and with a cross of "Giant-Globe" mingled with the last, a prolific 

 and desirable combination was secured. One of the most hopeful 

 of the crosses for the "goose-egg" type of large fruit was obtained 

 from a combination which in the record book is expressed as 

 follows, 75/103//103///103/181, which means that the cross 

 of "Magnus" upon the "Ponderosa" (that is, "Magnerosa"), was 

 next pressed upon the "Ponderosa" and this derivative cross was 

 bred upon the cross of "Ponderosa" upon "Sumatra Fig." The 

 "Ponderosa," a broad, meaty-fruited sort is represented three 

 times and the medium long "Magnus" and the very long 

 "Sumatra Fig" but once. From such a blending of the length 

 and breadth at the same time, keeping the flesh in good condition, 

 it is hoped to get an acceptable type of marketable tomato. 



The "Stone" Crosses. 



Some of the "Stone" crosses showed much to give encourage- 

 ment to the breeder, thus the one with "Brinton's Best" was 

 gratifying as a choice set of plants bearing large red fruits of 

 apple shape. Seventeen such mature tomatoes were taken from 



