44 EXPKRIMKM SlAllON BuLLKIlN 363 



Nashua — bronze, full, double, incurved flowers, cut-flower type, 

 height 30 inches; blooms September 1 to 20. 



Ahiscoma — light \-ello\\", full, double reflex, dwarf and well- 

 branched; blooms October 10; lacks hardiness, used for pot cul- 

 ture only. 



Begonia 



Studies were made on the inheritance of doubleness, flower color, 

 foliage color, and plant habit. In the process of this work, double- 

 flowered varieties of begonias in all colors common to the species, as well 

 as double-flowered varieties with dark foliage, have been developed. One 

 of our leading florists' seedsmen is co-operating to perfect hybrid seed 

 production for the florists' trade. 



Penstemon 



\\'ith the aid of students, a number of inter-specific hybrids of Pen- 

 stemon have been made. This genus contains some very desirable garden 

 perennials and improved hardy forms will be welcome to the home gar- 

 dener as well as to the commercial nurseryman. Two years are required 

 to flower plants from seed. The first two F^ generations will flower 

 during the summer of 1946. 



Saintpaulia 



Hybridization and the testing of seedlings are being continued with 

 this fine house plant. Through the co-operation of growers over the 

 countr\", we have collected some 20 or more varieties with duplicates 

 from several sections of the country. These plants will be flowered here 

 to determine which varieties have more than one name and to assist in 

 determining the correct nomenclature of African violet varieties. 



Forsythia 



Crosses have been made between Forsythia ovata, F. si/spensii, and 

 F. Intenjiedia in an attempt to incorporate more hardiness in the flower 

 buds of this popular shrub. 



Lilac 



Several hundred lilac seedlings planted four years ago have now- 

 blossomed. One of these, an unusually fine purple variety and diflfering 

 from all the 150 named varieties in the lilac arboretum, has been selected 

 for naming and propagation under the name of Anne Tighe. Several 

 hundred more lilac seedlings from controlled crosses were planted in the 

 spring of 1945, for the purpose of studying the inheritance of color and 

 the production of better pink varieties and, also, later blooming varieties. 



Other Investigations 



Sweet Pea and Gladiolus variety trials are now being conducted. 



The experimental work on house plants is completed and being pub- 

 lished as Station Bulletin 359. Exact cultural information, and general 

 notes on propagation and insect control on plants in the house are in- 

 cluded, with numerous illustrations. 



Work on the Lily-of-the-\'alley continues with an investigation of 

 strains of planting stock. 



W. D. HoLLEV, James MacFarlaxe, A. F. Veager 



