54 EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 354 



The basis of its selection was for comparatively large-sized pods, extreme 

 earliness, and resistance to insects and disease. In some years its perform- 

 ance has been outstanding, whereas in other years it has not proven su- 

 perior to other varieties. 



A limited amount of select foundation stock seed of the Flash variety 

 of horticultural bean is ready for distribution. This variety is somewhat 

 earlier than Brilliant but probably not quite as productive. 



A. F. Yeager, J. R. Hepler 



Breeding work with Lima beans has included selections supplied by 

 the United States Department of Agriculture from some of their discarded 

 breeding lines used for the development of heat-resistant Lima beans. Our 

 problem here is the opposite, namely, varieties that will develop under cool 

 weather conditions. . Some of the selections are earlier than Henderson's 

 Bush and much more productive. Purification has*been done by growing 

 generations in the greenhouse where crosspollination can be better 

 controlled. 



W. D. HOLLEY 



In tomato breeding two objectives have been kept in mind. One is the 

 development of extremely early varieties for the cooler parts of New Hamp- 

 shire. Strains resulting from crosses with Early Chatham and with cer- 

 tain South American species which give evidence of extreme earliness are 

 being tested in the variety plots in northern New Hampshire. The other 

 hne of breeding is to develop tomatoes containing a high content of Vita- 

 min C, from crosses with L. peruvianiiui. This project is in collaboration 

 with the Department of Agricultural Chemistry which makes the vitamin 

 analysis. Selections have been made which carry a Vitamin C content, 

 three or four times as high as standard varieties. Whether or not it will 

 be possible to get these tomatoes up to standard marketable size and still 

 retain the high vitamin content still remains to be determined. Two spe- 

 cialized types of tomatoes have been named during the year. One is called 

 Window Box and is extremely dwarf, determinate in vine type, and has 

 standard-sized fruit. It is satisfactory for growing in window boxes or for 

 extreme early outdoor production. The plants require only about one foot 

 of space. Another is Tiny Tim, a very small fruited type, capable of be- 

 ing matured in a 5-inch pot for purposes of Christmas decorations, and not 

 recommended for field growing. 



A. F. Yeager, H. Purinton 



Treatment of Seeds with Hormones and Hormone-like Preparations 



Tests of various commercial preparations were continued and com- 

 pared with pure substances and with untreated seeds in order to determine 

 their effects on seed germination and vigor. 



Recent tests on thiourea reported in the literature* have shown some 

 stimulatory eft'ects on dormant lettuce seed, when tested on moist filter 

 paper. It seemed desirable to test its effect on seeds subsequently planted 



*Ra!eigh, G. J. The germination of dorynant lettuce seed. 

 Science 98: 538, 1943. 



Thompson, R. C. and Kosar, W. F. Stimulation of germination of dormant lettuce seed by 

 sulfur compounds. Plant Physiol. 14: 567-573, 1939. 



