experime:n^t station report. 299 



(2) since the parentage of (29) is expressed in the fruit at 2. The 

 last three fruits shown at 6, 7 and 8 are of similar parentage, be- 

 ing obtained by crossing "Purple Tokio" (32) upon the % hybrid 

 (6//25/6). "Tokio" is round-fruited like the "Tlack Pekin," 

 and has reduced the length of its offspring, producing a flattened 

 oval fruit. The specimen at 8 shows the light green surface under 

 the calyx, a charact^^r both of "Purple Tokio" and "Ihvarf Pur- 

 ple." 



Those w^ho tested the % hybrids for table quality pro- 

 nounced them equal in texture and flavor to standard sorts with no 

 trace of bitterness peculiar to the "Chinese." Further crossing 

 with desirable varieties has been continued this year in the hope 

 of obtaining a 15/16 hybrid with a normal-sized fruit of good 

 quality and more desirable in market because of greater resistance 

 to decay. 



^-OVELTIES. 



Two new varieties of eggplants' were tested the past season. Xo. 

 34, ''Bound Purple." Four plants were grown, with an average 

 height of one and one-half foot, purplish stem and foliage and 

 purple fruit, which in form did not bear out its name, being less 

 "round" than the "Black Pekin." The average number of fruito 

 per plant was seven with a keeping quality of 28 per cent. 



Xo. 35, "Chameleon." This novelty represented by eight plants 

 had the general habit of "Scarlet Chinese," but with the excep- 

 tion of one plant was spinelessL The stem and foliage were green, 

 height of plant, two and one-half feet, wdth smooth egg-shaped 

 fruits — glossy green until near ripening when they changed to 

 shades of orange, which explains the varietal name. Six hundred 

 and forty fruits were counted at harvest; keeping quality, 98 per 

 cent. This is doubtl'^ss a selection of the "Chinese," and promises 

 to make a better breeder than the old form. 



ExPEEIilEXTS WITH ToMATOES. 



Twenty-five hundred tomato plants were grown in the home 

 gi'ounds during 1909, occupying the greater part of Series III. 

 and lY. About one hundred combinations in breeding were under 

 observation, representing several lines of research. 



