398 NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



Number 14. Is with few spines. Very dark-green and long, and 

 somewhat club-shaped. 



Number 15. Is nearly* spineless. Dark-green. Straight and uni- 

 form in all respects throughout. 



Number 16. Is nearly spineless. Pale, greenish-yellow color 

 throughout, and inclined to be club-shaped ; somewhat triangular in 

 section. 



Number 17. Is with very few spines. Intensely dark-green in 

 color, nearly uniform throughout. Slightly curved, and with little 

 tendency to be triangular. 



EXPERIBfENTS IN CROSSING EGGPLANTS. 



The results of the first year with seedlings from the cross of the 

 ' ' New York Improved Spineless ' ' variety upon the ' ' Long Purple ' ' of 

 the previous season have been fully considered the present year. The 

 greenhouse permitted the growing of plants of various ages for set- 

 ting in the experiment grounds. One lot was started so early that 

 some of the plants showed their first bloom before they were set out, 

 and an early crop of fruit obtained from these plants, followed by a 

 second setting that corresponded in time with the main lot of plants 

 grown at the usual time. 



The cross was evident at a very early stage in the growth of the 

 plants, first, from the uprightness of the ' ' Long Purple ' ' parent 

 with the large broad leaf of the " New York Improved." There was 

 the purple color of the young stems and leaf-stalk and mid-rib com- 

 mon to the "Long Purple," with the stoutness of the "New York 

 Improved." Unusual vigor prevailed in the plants and a remark- 

 able freedom from all leaf or root troubles, quite in contrast with 

 plants of previous seasons upon adjoining plots. This was largely 

 due to a more favorable year for this crop, as is proved by the check 

 plants of both parent forms grown alongside of the cross. 



When it came to the fruit the certainty of the cross was agreeably 

 confirmed, because, instead of the long, slender and usually curved 

 form of the "Long Purple," or the oval shape of the "New York 

 Improved," there was a fruit that combined the characteristics of the 

 two. In color it agreed closely with the dark purple of the ' ' Long 

 Purple," and is perfection in that respect for the peculiar demands 

 of the market. In general shape it was like a slender pear of the 

 " Bartlett " or " Louise Bonne " type, with often a little curve, which 

 feature may be due simply to the position the young fruit takes 



