ANNUAL REPORT, 1947-48 61 



Carrots. — During the year a search was made to find a carrot variety which 

 would have better color than the Hutchinson but still retain the strong top, 

 resistance to carrot blight, and, of course, the long slim root. Fifty different 

 varieties and strains were collected from many seedsmen in both the United 

 States and Europe. These varieties were grown as spring, summer, and fall crops. 



The nine varieties obtained from Europe either were too short or produced 

 light-colored roots. The various strains of Imperator, which is the variety grown 

 in the West, produced a weak, small top when grown in New England. In our 

 soil the roots of this variety are not as long as those of Hutchinson. The color 

 is good but the tops are very susceptible to carrot blight. All of the other vari- 

 eties failed to meet the standard in one way or another. 



Since no variety was found to replace the Hutchinson, the breeding program 

 to produce better-colored roots, which has been under way, will be enlarged and 

 intensified. Roots that most nearly fit the standard were produced from material 

 that came from crosses of Hutchinson and Turkey Red or Imperator. Consider- 

 able testing is necessary to determine adaptability, resistance to disease, and 

 market acceptance. 



Broccoli.— S^rmg and fall broccoli trials again indicated that Waltham No. 7 

 is suited for planting in the spring, while strain No. 29 must be grown in the fall 

 so that the plant can develop during warm weather. Waltham No. 11 has 

 proved adaptable for both spring and fall growing. 



During the late fall of 1947, the weather was such as to demonstrate the value 

 of strain No. 29. It is slow growing and does not easily push up to flower. Pro- 

 duction averaged slightly more than 1 pound per plant. 



There was wide variation among the many varieties in the trials to freezing 

 damage. On some varieties 70 percent of the crop cut November 3, 1947, fol- 

 lowing a 'sharp freeze, was unmarketable; Waltham No. 11 had 55 percent not 

 marketable; and Waltham No. 29 only 22 percent. This hardiness factor is im- 

 portant since the harvest continues well into late fall. 



In 1948, cold wet weather for several weeks following transplanting of the 

 spring crop to the field caused the plants to produce a small button of a head 

 before obtaining their proper size. Subsequent warm weather caused these 

 small buds to push up rapidlj', forming either a worthless head or one only about 

 one-fourth the usual size. This is the first time in ten years that the weather 

 has been so adverse as to affect almost all varieties and strains. Waltham No. 7 

 made the most rapid recovery and proved the best. In 1947 it produced 1.1 

 pounds marketable broccoli per plant and this year only 0.77 pound. Waltham 

 No. 11 produced 1.0 and 0.62 pound respectively for the same periods. 



Celery. — The fifth generation of plants from a cross between Summer Pascal 

 and Cornell No. 19 was grown. Fifty single-plant selections from the 1945 crop 

 were tried. Along with these were trials of stock seed lots of our strain of Sum- 

 mer Pascal, and Summer Pascal from various seedsmen as well as new varieties 

 recently introduced. 



None of the new varieties was as good as Summer Pascal under our conditions. 

 From the breeding material, four lots of green and one of semi-green proved 

 sufficiently good to warrant further trial. 



On some types of soil Summer Pascal has been too short, and one selection 

 was made of a taller type to fit this need. One selection was made on the basis 

 of its performance in the hotbed where the crop is left for early maturity. The 

 other two have other points of superiority over Summer Pascal. Trials over 

 several years are necessary to prove adaptability. 



