EXPERIMEXT STATIOX EEPORT. 455 



the fine-leaved tyjx?. As to the character of the fruit and time of 

 maturing there seems to be no difference, but in point of yield the 

 plants with ordinary foliage outrank those of the "potato" type. In 

 general, the fruits are like both parents — of a handsome pink and 

 somewhat variable in shape. Some plants favor in this tlie "Pon- 

 derosa," while the larger numlier are globular, like the "Magnus," and 

 lacking in the ribbed or angular form of the former variety. While 

 not to be classed among the strictly early sorts, this cross is one well 

 suited to give through a long season a full crop of handsome \nnk fruits 

 that ripen evenly and yield a larger percentage of llesh than many 

 standard sorts. The reasons for the selection of these two sorts have 

 l)een given in previous reports, and the results sliow a com])ination 

 of qualities that makes it superior to either parent. The objectionable 

 shape and uneven ripening of the "Ponderosa" are removed, with a 

 gain of size and percentage of flesh over the "Magnus." The yield is 

 large and the season long. From one plant sixteen marketable fruits 

 were picked at one time, all of them large and smooth enough for the 

 choicest fruit and weighing six pounds and four ounces. 



A considerable quantity of seed was saved from the best fruits of 

 the best plants, which will be distributed in time for the next season. 



Other members of the "Magnerosa" family were grown in the usual 

 numlx^r — that is, a row of five plants — as follows: The male parent 

 upon the cross 75 (75x103), giving what may be termed a three- 

 quarter blood of the "Magnus," produced three coarse-leaved and two 

 fine-leaved plants, with fine, medium-sized, round, smooth fruits, that 

 did not show much of the "Ponderosa" characteristics. The cross 

 worked upon the male parent (75x103) 75 was represented by only 

 two plants, one of which was coarse and one fine-leaved. Here the 

 "Ponderosa" was more in evidence in the irrregularity of the fruits, 

 l)ut the instances were too few for any generalization. There is a 

 strong individuality among plants of the best established varieties. 

 The female u]X)n the cross 103 (75x103) had five plants, all fine- 

 leaved, but among the fruits there was less uniformity. Four plants 

 had the fruits large and irregular and scarcely an improvement upon 

 tlie "Ponderosa" in this respect, while the fifth )x)re round fruits of 

 remarkable smoothness, from which seeds for further testing were 

 saved. The cross upon the female parent (75x103) 103 gave fine- 

 leaved plants which bore a large crop of fruit, and liere, again, four 

 plants strongly resembled the "Ponderosa" in irregular fruits, while 

 one was prolific in fine, medium-sized tomatoes of a desirable length. 



