EXPKKIMKXT STATION IJKl'OKT. 477 



white and purple here as in that ease. In shape, however, there was 

 a decided difference, for here both parents were of the round type 

 and tlie crosses deviated but little from the form common to the two 

 parents. 



4. ''Fordhook Improved" upon "Mammoth Pearl'' gave a mixed 

 lot of crosses, some of the fruits being purple, while others were white. 

 The male parent does not differ essentially from the "New York Im- 

 proved,'' and the mother plant is close to the "White Pearl." There 

 is, therefore, in this cross a blending of the large, well-formed purple 

 sort with a much smaller, more slender and white variety. 



The one thing that deserves special mention in this connection 

 was the remarkable vigor of the crossed plants and their great pro- 

 ductiveness. They occupied a half plot, while adjoining them were 

 standard commercial sorts, and the difference was remarkable. The 

 crossed plants averaged fully twice the size of the others and kept in 

 bloom up to the time of hard frosts^-near the 1st of Xovember. 



Two years ago, when the cross between "Long Purple" and "New 

 York Improved" were grown for the first time, the same observation 

 was made and set down in the report for that year in the following 

 words : "The plants of this cross have proved of remarkable vigor, 

 so great, in fact, that it has been suggested that for this reason alone 

 the cross is a great gain." The crossing of eggplants is not a difficult 

 matter, the flowers in all their parts being of large size, and it is 

 recommended that it be engaged in by growers of this truck plant for 

 the added strength and consequent fruitfulness that it brings. 



BREEDING OF CUCUMBERS. 



Plot lY., Series I., was devoted to the crosses of the "White Spine'" 

 and "White Pearl" cucumbers that were obtained in 1899. Plate IV. 

 (upper half) shows the range of variations in these crosses, the fruits 

 being taken when nearly mature. It is seen that some of them are 

 very short, not much longer than broad, while others are quite long. 

 Some of those of medium size were comparatively smooth, and by 

 selecting from these it is hoped to obtain a fruit that will be more 

 desirable than either of the parents. 



A corresponding set of fruits was selected from the plants (Plot 

 TIL, Series III.) of the cross of "Telegraph" upon "Zuaim," se- 

 cured in the greenhouse during the winter season. The two smallest 



