SEEDS AND SEED GROWING. 



63 



is generally believed tliat the effect of the cross is apparent the 

 first year in the grain, but careful experiments plainly show that 

 this is not so, and that flint corn grains which do not show a 

 trace of the admixture of sweet corn the first generation may 

 produce ears the second generation, showing some of the char- 

 acteristics of the sweet corn, and the same is true of other 

 kinds that are crossed. The same truth undoubtedly holds as 

 good in the case of other plants. 



Mixing Varieties.— Practically varieties of plants can be 

 mixed only in the blossom; and in order to mix the different 

 varieties both must be in blossom at the same time. On this 

 account potatoes do not mix in the hill. The varieties of some 

 species of plants are much inclined to mix. Any two varieties 

 of corn, melons, squashes and cucumbers are especially liable to 

 be crossed if growing in the same field and in fiower at the same 

 time. However, two kinds of corn, of beans and of other plants 

 may be grown on adjoining pieces of land withut danger of mix- 

 ing, providing that they are not in fiower at the same time: e. g., 

 Cory and Evergreen sweet corn if planted at the same time 

 may be grown for seed close together and will not mix, since 

 the Cory would be entirely out of flower when the Evergreen 

 came into flower. Melons and squashes never mix together, for 

 although this belief is widespread the most careful experiments 

 have failed in getting any fruit when the one has been pollen- 

 ized by the other. Neither do musk-melons and water-melons 

 mix together. 



Distance Between Varieties. — The distance which should in- 

 tervene between varieties liable to mix is variously estimated by 

 different growers and is influenced by various conditions. The 

 pollen of corn, grasses and many other plants is moved by the 

 wind; and when different varieties of corn flowering at the same 

 time are planted for seed there will be more liablity of their 

 mixing when the pieces of land on which they grow are in line of 

 the prevailing winds than when east and west of each other. If 

 a grove or hill intervenes between varieties it will often prevent 

 crossing. When varieties of each plant are not on a line of pre- 

 vailing winds, they are reasonably free from mixing if 500 feet 

 apart; otherwise, at least 1.000 feet should intervene. 



