REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 



BYROX D. ILAl.STED, SC.D. 

 JAMES A. KELSEV, .M.SC, FIELD ASSISTANT. 



The work in the Botanical Department for the year ending Xovem- 

 bcr 30th, 1903, has been chiefl}^ along lines mentioned in the reports 

 for the past few years. 



Plant breeding has been a leading feature of the work in the field, 

 supplemented by that of the greenhouse. During the year a new 

 variety of sweet corn has been established, which resulted from cross- 

 ing the "Black Mexican" upon the '"Egyptian."' This combination 

 has produced a variety with good-sized plants, and cars of satisfactory 

 size and number of rows of graining upon the cob. The color of the 

 green corn when ready for market is a rich pink, and therefore espe- 

 cially attractive. Progress has also been made in developing a variety 

 of corn that may have the grains mixed in the ear — pink and white 

 — ;ind with a special tendency to produce more than two ears to each 

 plant. During the season a cross has been secured between the 

 "Black Mexican" and the "Country Gentleman" for future develop- 

 ment by selection. 



The crosses between eggplants, effected some seasons ago, have de- 

 veloped into one sort that seems reasonably fixed. During the pres- 

 ent year crosses have been made between three Japanese varieties and 

 some of our own standard sorts. 



Among lima beans, the work of selection and iixing the peculiari- 

 ties of certain crosses is going on. In this connection a test was made 

 of the standard sorts that brings out important facts, particularly 

 concerning susceptibility to the mildew, which was unusually abund- 

 ant the present season. 



Tonsiderable of the Experiment .\rea was devoted to (oiuiitoes, and 

 at least one new sort is developed, namely, a yellow kind, that com- 

 bines the qualities of two standard varieties and with tendencies that 

 suggest it as a good l)reeder for further desirable points. The work 



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