EXPEEIMEXT STATION REPOIJT. 4(;r, 



there being a row each of the "Black Mexican"" and "Egyptian"' in 

 each of the six belts. The '"Black Mexican" is a variety of medium 

 stature of plant, and also medium in time of maturing, with eight- 

 rowed ears and grain of good quality, but sometimes objected to be- 

 cause of the dark color. The "Egyptian" is a larger sort, with heavier 

 ears and white grains, in ten to sixteen rows, maturing com])aratively 

 late, and of high quality. 



During this first season of the cross not more tlian one grain in 

 fifteen of the "Mexican" showed the influence of the "Egyptian." 

 Five of the most affected cars gave a total of 1,093 black grains to 

 299 of white ones. There was more of the mixing upon tlic "Egyp- 

 tian," as a corresponding five ears show black grains, 1,083, and white, 

 1,385. A comparison of the two sets of figures also shows the rela- 

 tive size of the ears of the two sorts. With the "Egyptian"' crosses 

 there were all gradations between the slightly purplish grains and 

 those that were nearly as dark as those of the typical "Mexican," and 

 many were of a rose or pale-red color. Occasionally a grain was 

 found with one-half white and the other dark, and in a few cases the 

 division line was along the narrow w^ay of the grain and suggesting 

 a birth-mark, covering one side of the face. 



Experiments in 1900. 



During the season of 1903 four plots were in sweet corn as a con- 

 tinuation of the crossing of the previous year. Plot IV., Series IV., 

 was planted with pink grains from single ear of the "Egyptian" type. 

 The good qualities of the two varieties under consideration stood in 

 favor of the "Egyptian." For example : a ten or twelve-rowed variety 

 is preferred to one with only eight rows, and for this and otlicr reasons 

 the above choice in the cross w^as made. This plot made a fine show- 

 ing of strong corn plants, and from the ninety-six hills, 355 good 

 ears were gathered, there often being two ears to the best stalks, and 

 sometimes three or four. The ears were, without exception, remark- 

 ably uniform in the even mixing of the white and colored grains. 

 Five average ears gave an average of 173 white grains to 213 that 

 w^ere colored. There is a blending of the two parent varieties in the 

 shape of ear, number of rows, as well as in a large percentage of pink 

 grains. The slender "Mexican" type is not fully maintained in- even 

 the few eight-rowed ear?, the cob boing larger, with the basal end 



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