ANNUAL REPORT, 1939 81 



in this countr}- and abroad have shown that if a perfected strain is to be de- 

 veloped it must come from material already locally adapted. Strains grown lo- 

 cally, though reported faulty, are better than those obtainable elsewhere. The 

 results with single-plant selections indicate that large numbers muot be used if 

 the breeding program is to go forward. A large number of selections is now in 

 storage, and with the varieties no longer in the plantings more space and time 

 can be devoted to breeding work. 



The yellow sport from a strain of White Cape mentioned in last year's report 

 has been further tested and found to be a very desirable type, having the same 

 characteristics as the White Cape except the flesh color. Crisp flesh free from 

 fiber and with not too much turnip flavor is what makes the strain desirable. 



Cucurbita Pepo. The work with this crop has been completed with the develop- 

 ment of a uniform strain in plant type, shape of fruit, and condition of seed. 



Hutchinson Carrot. The work with this crop is conducted in two ways. The 

 most important part is the maintenance of the strain and replenishing the supply 

 of stock seed. Through rigid selection of the stock seed roots, a gradual im- 

 provement in the color of the carrots has been noted by growers. Particular 

 attention has been given to internal color. The old Hutchinson had a large yellow 

 core. The Field Station strain now has a medium-sized core of quite good color. 



The second phase of the work with carrots is the hybridization of Hutchinson 

 with other carrots of better internal quality. A carrot obtained from the Bureau 

 of Foreign Plant Introduction of the United States Department of Agriculture 

 has been used as one parent in these crosses. Methods have been developed that 

 will permit the production of carrot seed from selected roots in the greenhouse 

 in time for planting the next year, thus making an annual out of the biennial 

 carrot. The F2 generation of these better quality hybrids was grown this year 

 and a large number of very good selections has been made. 



Waltham Beauty Pepper. The work of developing a better adapted pepper 

 has been continued this year with thirty selections from hybrids in which one 

 parent was Waltham Beauty. These hybrids are now in the third and fourth 

 generation. Very few plants have been found that contain the desirable character- 

 istics of the Waltham Beauty without poor ones. The amount of cross-pollina- 

 tion in peppers in this section has not been determined. No bags have been 

 used to prevent cioss-pollination. This year the selected plants were moved to 

 the greenhouse where a new crop of fruit is being produced under conditions that 

 make cross-pollination impossible. A comparison will be made of the self-pol- 

 linated seed with that raised in the field. 



Green Sprouting Broccoli. At the request of many groweis, over 40 varieties 

 and strains of green sprouting broccoli were collected this past year, from this 

 country and abroad. These were grown in the hope of finding a more uniform 

 strain of this vegetable that is becoming more popular each year. No strain 

 was found to be particularly bettei than another. There is a variation of over a 

 month between the harvest of the early plants and that of the late ones in the 

 same strain. Selected plants have been saved and are being seeded in the green- 

 house for planting next year in hope of obtaining a strain more uniform in ma- 

 turity and type of head. 



Wyman Crosby Beet. This strain of beet that has been developed from the 

 strain of one of the local growers will be sent out to selected giowers for trial on 

 their farms. If it proves to be superior, it will be increased for future use. It 

 has been found that to obtain much improvement in the internal color of beets 

 it is necessary to use single-plant selections instead of mass selection. Several 

 plants have been seeded in the greenhouse and were planted this last year in the 

 field. Further selection has been made from these for next year's trials. 



