44 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



not in-bred, and no more likely, apparently, to reproduce 

 the parent. These tests leave me without any method of 

 fixing a pronounced cross of squashes, and lead me to think 

 that the legitimate process of origination of new kinds here, 

 as, indeed, if not in general, is a more gradual process of 

 selection, coupled, perhaps, with minor crossing. 



I will relate a definite attempt towards the fixation of a 

 squash which I had obtained from crossing. The history of 

 it runs back to 1887, when a cross was effected between :i 

 summer yellow crookneck and a white bush scallop squash. 

 In 1889 there appeared a squash of great excellence, combin- 

 ing the merits of summer and winter squashes with very 

 attractive form, size and color, and a good habit of plant. 

 I showed the fruit to one of the most expert seedsmen of the 

 country, and he pronounced it one of the most promising 

 types which he had ever seen ; and, as he informed me that 

 he had fixed squashes by breeding in and in, I was all the 

 more anxious to carry out my own convictions in the same 

 direction. It is needless to say that I was very happy over 

 what I regarded as a great triumph, and I remember that I 

 experienced a keen feeling of satisfaction that I had been 

 able to overcome nature's prejudices. Of course I must 

 have a large number of plants of my new variety, that I 

 might select the best, both for in-breeding and for crossing 

 similar types. So I selected the very finest squash, having 

 placed it where I could admire it for some days, and saved 

 every seed of it. These seeds were planted upon the most 

 conspicuous knoll in my garden in 1890. It was soon evi- 

 dent that something was wrong. I seemed to have every- 

 thing except my squash. One plant, however, bore fruits 

 almost like the parent, and upon this I began my attempts 

 towards in-breeding. But flower after flower failed, and I 

 soon saw that the plant was infertile with itself. Careful 

 search revealed two or three other plants very like this one, 

 and I then proceeded to make crosses upon it. I was 

 equally confident that this method would succeed. When I 

 harvested my squashes in the fall and took account of stock, I 

 found that the seeds of my one squash had given just as many 

 different types as there were plants, and I actually counted 

 one hundred and ten kinds distinct enough to be named 



