66 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 327 



Seed Improvement. (Robert E. Young, Waltham.) 



Waltham Scarlet Shell Bean. Approximately 60 samples of an improved 

 French Horticultural bean were distributed to leading bean growers under the 

 name of Waltham Scarlet Shell bean. Of the growers who returned the ques- 

 tionnaire, 89 percent stated that it was a better bean than they were able to 

 secure trom established sources. 



The distribution of the samples was such that the bean was considered satis- 

 factory for most of the important vegetable growing sections of the State. 

 Sufficient stock seed has been produced to insure an ample supply of seed in 

 the near future. Most of the growers found that the bean had a bright scarlet 

 color with long straight pods, and produced high yields with most of the pods 

 ripening at the same time. 



Waltham Beauty Pepper. During the past season extensive trials of peppers 

 were made for the purpose of determining the value of the Waltham Beauty 

 pepper. This new pepper was the highest producer in comparison with eleven 

 of the most important pepper varieties available, and was second in earliness 

 and thickness of flesh. During the spring 125 growers asked for samples of 

 seed for trial. Of these growers 60 percent considered the pepper better than 

 the variety they are now growing; 28 percent indicated that the Waltham 

 Beauty was as good as their present variety; and 12 percent reported it to be 

 inferior. It has been found that under conditions where the California Wonder 

 type peppers will set and produce a satisfactory crop the Waltham Beauty 

 does not yield well. On the Field Station grounds the Waltham Beauty pro- 

 duced over four times as much fruit as the California Wonder. 



Breeding and selection for better uniformity were continued with the result 

 that a selection bearing the fruit down-curved in contrast to the upright fruit 

 of the Waltham Beauty has been improved so that it gives almost as high a 

 yield as the latter. 



The Waltham Beauty pepper was exhibited at the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society fall vegetable show and received the Society's highest award, 

 a First-class Certificate. 



Tomatoes. An improved selection of the Field Station Comet, now known 

 as Waltham Forcing Tomato, has been distributed among growers. In the 

 greenhouse at the Field Station the tomato proved to be as high a producer as 

 the parent from which it was selected, and had only 10.8 percent No. 2 fruit 

 as compared to 18.2 percent produced by the parent. The new selection is 

 larger and there is less of the green color on the stem end of the tomato than 

 originally. Approximately 75 percent of the growers in the Boston area are 

 using the Waltham Forcing tomato or a strain that at one time was derived 

 from it. A cross between the Waltham Forcing and the Lloyd is proving satis- 

 factory as an outside trellis tomato for some growers. Selection is being con- 

 tinued to improve the core of the fruit. 



Bel-May Lettuce. Three selfed lines of selected Bel-May lettuce were dis- 

 tributed to leading growers of greenhouse lettuce this past season. Only a part 

 of the growers have completed the trials, but those reporting state that the 

 strains are very even and practically free from any deformed plants such as 

 appeared in the regular Bel-May strain. Of the three strains distributed, No. 

 1 has a very small frame with a medium size head; No. 2 has a medium size 

 head and frame; and No. 3 has a large rather loose head and medium large 

 frame. The No. 3 is more like the May King, one of the parents of the Bel-May. 



Wyman Crosby Beet. Selfing and selection were continued with the Wyman 

 Crosby beet in an effort to improve the internal color. It has been impossible 



