i82 NEW JERSEY STATE AGRICULTURAL 



«\iiich a fruit like the tomato may be modified and place that in- 

 formation in the hands of the practical growers for their use 

 upon their own grounds. Another end sought is the production 

 of plants bearing standard-sized, superior fruits without the 

 glands upon stems and foliage. Such smooth plants would be 

 highly prized by everyone who has had any experience with the 

 disagreeable, rank-smelling, sticky exudation so objectionable 

 with the ordinary kinds of tomato plants. A study is being made 

 of the character units of the tomato to determine their nature, 

 whether sympathetic or antagonistic and their behavior and value 

 in practical breeding. 



Among eggplants the work is largely with the hybrids of 

 "American" and "Chinese" species in the hope of developing a 

 marketable-sized fruit with a firm flesh that will neither shrivel 

 or decay in the short period required for the destruction of the 

 ordinary kinds. The truly spineless eggplant is striven for 

 through crossing and selection, and as a by-product new sorts 

 with length and reduced seediness are secured as, for example, 

 the "Ivory" which is so named because of its color. It is a source 

 of regret that so many of the testers were not able to get plants 

 from the seeds of this sort sent out to them. A new supply is 

 being secured this year from which better results may be ex- 

 pected. 



Much time and space have been given to beans and many com- 

 binations are in hand. Here the end in view, as with tomatoes, 

 etc., is a determination of the factors upon which species and 

 varieties rest and the eft'ect of each of these upon others as deter- 

 mined by breeding them together. The by-product may be new 

 sorts of beans that, it is hoped, will exceed either parent. Thus, 

 the prolific "Jackson Wonder" with its speckled thin seeds in 

 tough pods, when bred with the "Dreer," gives a number of types 

 of Limas, some of which by selection may become meritorious. 



Squashes, while acknowledged as puzzling plants to breed, 

 have certain features that will supplement the other kinds of 

 crops that are under consideration. A study of the flesh, as to 

 thickness and quality, is being made and the breeding for less 

 seeds and smaller seed-cavity may be profitable. 



The peas make an excellent crop in early season to be followed 

 by squashes upon the same land. A study is being made of the 

 effect upon time of maturity of the union of early and late sorts 

 along with that of size of plant, pod, seed, etc. 



Practically a full set of the commercial peppers has been grown 

 this season for the first time and a plan is laid for an extended 

 consideration of the various qualities of these varieties, both 



