312 Plant-Breeding 



research and the production of improved varieties and 

 strains for dissemination. 



The success of the cotton-breeding experiments is 

 noteworthy. These have been conducted with the object 

 of increasing the length and strength of lint ; and an early 

 variety to avoid the ravages of the boll-weevil is desired. 

 The famous long-stapled Sea Island Cotton has been 

 much used for hybridizing with the upland cottons to 

 increase the length of lint of the latter. The length has 

 been increased very considerably by this method and the 

 varieties have been made more uniform, an important 

 factor in ginning. 



The work of Webber and Swingle in producing new 

 types of oranges which are resistant to cold is exceedingly 

 important. Various varieties of the common sweet 

 orange were crossed with Pondrus (or Citrus) trifoliata, a 

 hardy hedge orange, and hybrids have been produced which 

 are called " citranges." These will grow some four hundred 

 miles farther north than the present orange belt, which is 

 no small factor in orange-growing. These hybrids are too 

 bitter to be eaten out-of-hand, but they make an excellent 

 ade ; many of them have more juice than lemons. 



A cross has also been made between the pomelo or 

 grapefruit and the tangerine. A hybrid was produced 

 which combines the easily removable rind of the tan- 

 gerine and has the flavor, not of the pomelo, but of the 

 sweet orange. A fruit of this kind, combining these char- 

 acteristics so well, bids fair to play an important part in 

 orange-growing of the future. 



The division of Plant Introduction has contributed no 

 small part to breeding work. Through its activities, a great 



