258 BREEDING CROP PLANTS 



These data show that all the characters studied segregated 

 in the second generation. There is some indication that the 

 contrasted characters in color of skin, size of seed, size of fruit, 

 and form of fruit are each separated by a single main factor 

 difference. In a cross between varieties producing round and 

 elliptical fruits respectively the F\ fruit was recorded as round, 

 while the F z gave a ratio of 2.76 round to 1 elliptical. The other 

 two characters, netting and ribbing, indicate more complex in- 

 heritance. Delices de la table (cf) has deep ribbing and no 

 netting; Sutton's Superlative ( 9 ) has no ribbing and pronounced 

 netting. The F 2 generation showed a variation of from 5 to 100 

 per cent, with respect to each character. 



SQUASHES AND GOURDS 



Emerson (1910), while at the Nebraska Experiment Station, 

 made a study of size inheritance in a cross between Yellow 

 Crookneck and White Scallop summer squashes. He found 

 that length of neck and diameter of bowl were intermediate 

 between the parents in FI. The second generation showed a 

 complete series of dimensions and shapes from one parent to 

 the other. The same investigator crossed Striped Spoon gourd 

 with Filipino Horned gourd. Results similar to those of the 

 squash cross were obtained. 



WATERMELON 



One of the most serious handicaps to the production of water- 

 melons in the Southern States is the presence of wilt, due to an 

 organism, Fusarium niveum. "Citron" or "stock melon," so- 

 called locally, is a non-edible variety of Citrullus vulgaris resistant 

 to wilt. Orton (1911) conceived the idea of crossing this form 

 with edible forms. He hybridized Eden, a good quality melon, 

 with citron. The FI was very vigorous and of intermediate type. 

 Between three and four thousand F z plants were grown and 

 ten fruits selected on the basis of resistance and quality. After 

 selecting the resultant progeny for several years the variety 

 Conqueror was isolated. It is disease resistant, has a tough 

 rind, and does not sunburn easily. The flesh is juicy and of 

 good quality, although not equal to the finest. These studies 

 were made in South Carolina. It was found that Conqueror 



