COMMON GARDEN PLANTS 118 



of dominance and recessiveness might enable the 

 plant developer to hybridize the squashes and 

 -forecast the results of certain unions with a 

 greater measure of assurance. But as yet little 

 or nothing has been done in this direction. 



My own work with the squashes has included 

 hybridizing experiments on a somewhat exten- 

 sive scale, more for the general interest of the 

 subject than for the development of new com- 

 mercial varieties. 



I have produced, however, one somewhat im- 

 portant variety from seed sent by my collector 

 in Chile. This is a variety the original of which 

 somewhat resembled the acorn squash — having 

 the form of a rather irregular acorn in its cup, 

 giving it a unique appearance. This is of very 

 large size and it will grow on dry land where 

 other squashes do not thrive, attaining a great 

 weight. 



The vines first grown from the seed showed 

 evidence of mixed ancestry. But some of them 

 gave such promise that it seemed worth while to 

 select the best strains. 



To effect this, I used hand pollination and 

 the most rigid selection. Only the specimens 

 showing the desired qualities were used in the 

 crosses, and only the best individuals preserved 

 for seed. 



