EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT 207 



4. "Pride of Nishua-Stowell's Evergreen" Cross (white grains) : Old 



rose, 28; intermediate, o; white, 17. 



5. "Pride of Nishua-Stowell's Evergreen" Cross (yellow grains) : Old 

 rose, 35; intermediate, 3; white, 14. 



6. "Pride of Nishua-Country Gentleman" Cross: Old rose, 44; inter- 

 mediate, 4 ; white, 17. 



7. "Pride of Nishua-Old Colony" Cross (yellow grains) : Old rose, 34; 

 intermediate, 4 ; white, 7. 



8. "Pride of Nishua-Mctropolitan" Cross (yellow grains) : Old rose, 

 36; intermediate, 16; white, 16. 



It is seen from these figures that in all the last five cases, the 

 "red" cohs greatly outnumber the "white" cobs and the inter- 

 mediates are generally exceptional. When the totals are com- 

 pared, it is noted that the whites are near to one-quarter of the 

 whole and, in this respect, approach the number that is called for 

 in case the cob color is a unum that observes the Mendelian law. 

 Counting the "intermediates" with the "red" cobs, the totals are 

 with colored cobs 204 and the white cobs, 71, while under the 

 Mendelian rule the ratio of 3 to i would give 206.25 to 68.75, 

 which is as near as might be expected where so few instances are 

 involved. If the white cob is a recessive unum, it follows that 

 plants of the cross having it may be expected to breed true to this 

 same peculiarity. 



A colored cob is not desired, all other qualities remaining the 

 same, and therefore it is preferable to establish cross-breeds with 

 white cob strains. Should the grains from "red" cob ears be 

 used, it is expected that they would yield a fairly definite number 

 of "red" cob and "white" cob ears, namely, eight of the "red" to 

 one of the "white" type, with the latter diminishing with each 

 succeeding generation when the "white" ears are invariably ex- 

 cluded when selecting the seed for planting. 



The fact of the intermediates demands attention for, under 

 the rule of dominance of the "red," they are puzzling. An ex- 

 amiation of a pile of cobs of any field sort of corn usually reveals 

 the fact that a great variation in the amount of color in the cob 

 is the rule. Whether this is due to the presence of "white" 

 blood and a failure of the "red" to fully dominate it is a possi- 

 bility; but a variation in color among pure "red" ears is not a 

 fact that is, apparently, at all exceptional. While a color in 

 itself may be very constant, it is rare that shades innumerable 

 do not appear, due to a greater concentration or dilution of the 

 coloring substance, if one may so express it, without attempting 

 to give the reasons for such variability. 



