50 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



personal experience. If there are any points which the 

 lecturer has discussed, or any new ones, about which the audi- 

 ence desire to ask, there is now an opportunity to do so. 



B. P. Ware (of Marblehead) . I have been very glad to 

 hear some reference made to squashes, because that is a spe- 

 cial interest with us in Essex County. I would like to ask 

 the lecturer whether he considers the crook-neck squash a 

 distinct species from such varieties as the turban, marrow 

 and Hubbard squashes, and if the latter should be classed 

 with the same species as pumpkins. 



Professor Bailey. Squashes and pumpkins, as we under- 

 stand the terms, are separate species. The term "squash" 

 has a different meaning in this country from what it has in 

 England, France and Germany. What we call " pumpkins " 

 here are ordinarily called ' ' squashes " in England and on the 

 continent. 



Mr. Ware. Then the crook-neck squash is an entirely 

 different species from the marrow, the Hubbard and the tur- 

 ban, — they will not mix? 



Professor Bailey. I do not think they will. I have tried 

 it many times, and have never succeeded in getting a hybrid. 



Governor Hoard. I understood the lecturer to say that 

 in-breeding as applied to animals, as well as plants, was 

 nearly always productive of a loss of constitution and power. 

 I would like to ask him if there are not exceptions to that. 



Professor Bailey. Very many. It is well known among 

 seedsmen that it tends to fixity of character ; but when car- 

 ried on for a series of years it will result in the deterioration 

 of the plant. 



Governor Hoard. Mr. Dauncey of England, the founder 

 of the Stoke-Pogis family of Jerseys, in-bred constantly. 

 ' ' Stoke-Pogis 3d " traced thirty times back to the cow 

 ' ' Pet ; " but Mr. Dauncey managed his system of in-breeding 

 with such skill and discernment that he increased the consti- 

 tution and vigor of his animals. 



Professor Bailey. Then he certainly practised a series 

 of crosses by which he selected the parents. 



Governor Hoard. That is right. In-breeding is like a 

 razor ; it will cut your throat or your beard with equal will- 

 ingness, depending upon how you hold it. 



