56 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 436 



In order to produce a large supply of seed of one selfed strain, R-45, the plants 

 were allowed to cross-pollinate among themselves. This massing improved 

 vigor while maintaining uniformity. This strain, which was grown in a large 

 block, proved to be the most out-standing broccoli ever grown here and had pro- 

 duced 89 percent of the center heads by June 15. It will be tested once more to 

 be sure of its seasonal adaptability before being released to growers. 



Results of this project indicate that while some strains are adaptable for both 

 spring and fall crops, most are satisfactory only for the season for which they are 

 bred. If the plants are self-pollinated more than two or three times, the loss of 

 vigor is so great as to make them commercially worthless. 



BuUermit Squash. In 1943, local growers asked for a better, more uniform 

 strain of Butternut squash. Trials of commercial and growers' strains indicated 

 considerable variation, and some strains had a large percentage of the crop that 

 was not marketable. 



There was particular objection on the part of growers to cracking, crooked or 

 curved fruit, and too great length. The breeding program is an attempt to com- 

 bine the best of these characteristics in one strain. In 1945 the crop from the 

 commercial strains varied from 0.6 percent to 12.8 percent crooked fruit, and 

 from 19.4 to 42.9 percent cracking. No. 1 fruit — that is, squash of the desired 

 size and shape and not cracked-^varied from 227 to 345 boxes per acre. 



During 1944, some of the best strains were self-pollinated, and these were 

 grown during 1945. Some of the selfed lines possessed most of the characters 

 desired and seemed quite uniform. The best of them had only 1 1 percent cracked, 

 6.7 percent crooked, 0.7 percent long, 7 percent small or misshapen; and a total 

 yield of 520 boxes per acre. The yields from these lines varied ^rom 407 to 607 

 boxes per acre, but the highest yielding strains had the greatest percentage of 

 cull fruits, so the yield per acre of No. 1 fruit (not cracked) was only 394 boxes. 



There is also the problem of obtaining a squash that will keep in storage and 

 that does not shrink or shrivel. All the selfed squashes were placed in storage 

 and weighed at intervals. The loss in weight from October 6 to December 19 

 was 12 to 14 percent, and the total loss to January 3 averaged 20 percent. These 

 figures represent shrinkage only and do not include loss by rots. Unless a means 

 can be found to reduce the shrinkage, the Butternut squash cannot be stored 

 economically. Careful handling from field to storage is very important in the 

 prevention of loss in storage. 



In some tests to determine the carotene content and its relation to color of 

 flesh, it was found that a dark color of flesh was not always an indication of high 

 carotene. One lighter-colored squash had 2.14 milligrams carotene per 100 

 grams, which was next to the highest carotene content found. 



In some preliminary trials on spacing Butternut squash, the number of fruits 

 per plant increased with the increase in space, as follows: 6x6 feet, 1.90; 8x8 

 feet, 3.04; 10 x 10 feet, 3.87; and 12 x 12 feet, 5.92. There was very little dif- 

 ference in the average weight of the squash. While these trials were not replicated 

 and were on a poor part of the field, the total yields per acre did not vary much 

 from one spacing to another. It seems, therefore, that Butternut squash can 

 be grown at spacings of 10 to 12 feet with satisfactory results. 



Trellis Tomatoes. Trials of several varieties and strains of tomatoes were 

 conducted. During the early part of the growing season of 1945 the weather 

 was cold and wet and not conducive to goo^ setting of fruit on the first hand 

 or blossom cluster. In early July counts were made to determine whether there 

 was any variation in set among varieties and strains. One variety had set an 

 average of only 0.5 fruit per first cluster while another had set 3.7 fruits. Some 



