90 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



especially liable to be crossed if growing in the same field 

 and in flower at the same time. However, two kinds of 

 corn, of beans, and of other plants may be grown on adjoin- 

 ing pieces of land without danger of mixing, providing that 

 they are not in flower at the same time; e. g., Cory and 

 Evergreen sweet corn if planted at the same time may be 

 grown for seed close together and will not mix, since the 

 Cory would be entirely out of flower when the Evergreen 

 came into flower. Melons and squashes never mix together, 

 for although this belief is widespread the most careful ex- 

 periments have failed in getting any fruit when the one has 

 been pollenized by the other. Neither do muskmelons and 

 watermelons mix together. 



Distance Between Varieties. The distance which should 

 intervene between varieties liable to mix is variously 

 estimated by different growers and is influenced by various 

 conditions. The pollen of corn, hay grasses, and many 

 other plants is moved by the wind; and when different 

 varieties of corn flowering at the same time are planted 

 for seed there will be more liability of their mixing when the 

 pieces of land on which they grow are in line of the 

 prevailing winds than when east and west of each other. 

 If a grove or hill intervenes between varieties it will often 

 prevent crossing. When varieties of each plant are not 

 on a line of prevailing winds, they are reasonably free from 

 mixing if 500 feet apart; otherwise, at least 1000 feet 

 should intervene. 



Such plants as melons, cucumbers, squashes, onions, and 

 most other plants with conspicuous flowers, are pollenized 

 by insects to whose bodies the pollen becomes attached 

 and is thus carried from one flower to another. This pollen 

 is not light and powdery as in corn and many other plants 

 but is rather heavy. It is obvious, then, that the direction 



