416 NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



subject rather than producing new varieties. Only one commerciar 

 variety have we sent out, and that is the " Ignotum " tomato, a 

 rather full history of which you will find in the latter part of Bailey's- 

 "Survival of the Unlike," and also in "Plant-Breeding." They 

 have produced at least one thousand varieties of pumpkins and^ 

 squashes, none of which, however, were of sufficient commercial im- 

 portance to be introduced. They have made great numbers of crosses 

 with flowers, fruits and other things, but not for the purpose or origi- 

 nating varieties which could not be propagated and named. The 

 original desire was to make varieties of fruits and vegetables, but it 

 soon changed for the more important one of arriving at principles 

 first, as there seems to be a lack of comprehension of this subject in 

 the public mind. 



North Carolina. — The principal success heretofore has been in- 

 the growing of a great variety of colors of the popular shrub^ 

 generally known as " Crape Myrtle." They are also working toward' 

 getting a tomato more resistant to the Southern bacterial blight,, 

 starting with the little cherry and plum sorts that are the most 

 resistant. They have also a new eggplant, that seems resistant to 

 this blight. In the way of garden vegetables they are at work trying: 

 to produce a lettuce that will suit the winter gardeners better than. 

 any they now have. 



Oregon. — The work has been undertaken along the line of fruits 

 and flowers only. They have a very promising pear, that was crossed 

 several years ago with the " Winter Nelis " and "Bartlett." The- 

 tree has borne fruit this year, and has the qualities of the two parents. 

 They have fifteen crosses of roses and a number of good crosses of- 

 the pelargonium. 



Rhode Island. — In the horticultural department strawberries and 

 beans have been experimented with. The selection of bush fruits 

 is also underway here. The agricultural division is investigating the 

 peculiar characteristics of the corn-plant, and will endeavor to deter- 

 mine, if possible, what characteristics of the stalk, leaves, etc., are 

 correlated with the best yield of seed. An attempt is being made to 

 establish a standard for the corn-plant, at least of two varieties, and 

 to breed to it for improvement. Similar work is being carried on 

 in studying the characteristics and seeking to improve the yields of 

 several varieties of timothy, wheat and rye. An attempt is also 

 being made to secure, by selection and breeding, strains of several 

 varieties of soja beans and cow peas in the endeavor to secure plants 



