EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT 239 



SELECTION EXPERIMENTS WITH LIMA BEANS. 



As Stated last year, plants from the selected "plump" seed of 

 the "Station Lima" showed a strong running tendency and gave 

 little hope of an improved bush type. 



Considering the seed alone, the "plump" when compared with 

 the "flat" shows a decided contrast as pictured two years ago 

 (Plate XII, 1906 report), indicating that a rigid selection 

 through successive generations will establish both types. One 

 secret of success in this line of experiments is to save seed of 

 each plant separately, selecting in this case with the one thought 

 of the form of seed. 



The selection of "dark" and "light" types from the "Jackson 

 Wonder," pictured in the same plate (1906), has been continued, 

 giving seeds this season which, with few exceptions, are of a 

 solid dark red scarcely to be distinguished from the type which, 

 as noted elsewhere, is characteristic of the blend form when the 

 "Jackson Wonder" is bred with white varieties. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH BUSH BEANS. 



Thirty- five crosses of bush beans were grown during the past 

 season, twenty-five of which were white-seeded and represented 

 in most cases established types. 



Aside from "Longfellow-White Marrowfat" (26/29) and 

 "Jones' Stringless-Golden Eye" (131/130), seed of which has 

 already been distributed, the following are considered most 

 promising : 



"Longfellozv-Brittle Wax" (26-101). The plants of this 

 cross were a medium-early, prolific bush, many bearing long, 

 round, curved, stringless wax pods. 



"Crystal Wax-Market Wax" (145/135). This combination 

 represented by the second generation from the blend, has pro- 

 duced a variety of types. Plants of the blend were spreading 

 with pink flowers and numerous, medium-sized, flat, green pods 

 containing dark mottled seeds. As stated last year, the plants of 

 the first generation were variable, producing either green, wax 

 or crystal wax pods with seeds black, mottled, dark brown, light 

 brown or white. The one hundred and twenty-five plants grown 

 this season from seed of these five types have shown more or less 

 variation. The per cent, breeding true are as follows : Dark 

 brown, 16 per cent.; mottled, 40 per cent.; black, 51 per cent.; 

 light brown, 78 per cent, and white, 100 per cent. The last two 

 colors represent the two parents. A new white-seeded wax pod 



