ANNUAL REPORT, 1947-48 63 



yield 16 percent, and the yield of No. 1 squash 8 percent, and there was a slight 

 reduction in the number of culls, also of cracked squash. The late planting in- 

 creased the percentage of crooked squash from 6.4 to 12.4 percent. 



An analysis of the data indicates a complex interrelationship between the per- 

 centages of the various grades the strains produced and the weather during the 

 growing season. In 1946 the average percentage of cracked squash was 17.1, 

 and in 1947, 25.8 percent. 



Inbred lines are being obtained that have one and sometimes two desirable 

 characters fairly well fixed. 



Storage tests were made of all inbred lines in search of material that would 

 have lower weight losses in storage and keep for a longer time. None of the lines 

 kept significantly better than others. Some squash within all lines kept until 

 January 15. The average loss in weight in this period was 22 percent, not count- 

 ing the loss due to disease. When the squashes were waxed with a wax emulsion, 

 the loss in weight was reduced 45 percent. The loss in weight was further re- 

 duced (30 percent) when the squashes were wrapped in pliofilm. The wrapping 

 was done not as a practical method of storage but as a means of investigating 

 weight loss. 



Breeding Sweet Corn, Peppers, and Field Tomatoes for Massachusetts. 



(William H. Lachman.) 



Sweet Corn. — Approximately 4,000 plants were self-pollinated during the year 

 to further stabilize inbred lines in the process of development and to increase 

 the seed supply of lines that are homozygous. Two crops were grown in the 

 greenhouse in an effort to speed up the program and while the fall crop was not 

 satisfactory the early spring crop was quite successful. With supplementary 

 artificial lighting, a crop has been grown early in the spring for three years. It is 

 true that inbreds do not mature in their proper season in relation to one another 

 when grown indoors but sufficient benefits have resulted from this process so 

 that the work has been greatly facilitated. One large seed producer in Idaho has 

 cooperated in testing our inbreds in the production area, which has also proved 

 to be a valuable adjunct to the project. 



Ten extra early inbreds are now ready for testing in hybrid combination. These 

 have been produced through hack-crossing extra early types with later, more 

 desirable, market types. A program of eventually combining sixteen superior 

 inbreds into one hybrid has also been initiated. When this has been accomplished 

 the potential mixture of germ plasm should provide some very desirable types 

 upon self-pollination. 



Several hundred experimental hybrids were grown and studied as to their 

 general adaptability for this area. Thirty-two of these were noted as being de- 

 sirable and will be included for further study. 



One outstanding hybrid named Pilgrim has been introduced to the trade. 

 This is produced by crossing Massachusetts 32 with Connecticut 27, is midseason 

 in maturity, and the plants produce an excellent yield of large attractive ears. 

 Approximately twelve tons of seed were sold by seedsmen to farmers for produc- 

 tion this year. 



Two new hybrids will be released in 1949. One is an extra early sort resulting 

 from a cross of Connecticut 3 and Massachusetts 2410-191. The other is a 

 second-early, high-quality variety resulting from crossing Massachusetts 2412-2 

 X 2412-1 by Maine 2. 



Peppers. — The production of sweet peppers is greatly hampered in this area 

 by the poor setting of fruits among the standard varieties. Serious infestations 



