INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PLANT BREEDING. 429 



Hybrids were obtained between C. Pepo $ and C. moschata $ , and 

 out of 88 plants raised there were five well-marked types, but none showed 

 any certain influence of the staminate parent. These "hybrids " appear 

 to have matured only one fruit. 



Professor Bailey found that both Squash and Pumpkin flowers were 

 nearly always infertile with pollen borne by the same vine. Out of 

 200 tests with 50 varieties only 22 fruits developed, of which seven only 

 contained good seeds. 



Professor Bailey states that his work with Squashes appears on the 

 surface to run counter to Mendel, but he considers it possible that if the 

 work were to be done over again by Mendel's methods, the same laws 

 would be found to hold with cucurbitaceous plants. 



Results of Hybridisation and Plant Breeding in Canada. 

 By W. Saunders, of Ottawa. 



A comprehensive survey of 40 years' work in producing new varieties 

 of fruits, cereals, and other plants, together with an account of the 

 methods used in crossing many kinds of plants. Dr. Saunders's own work 

 since 1868 has been with Gooseberries, Currants, Grapes, Raspberries, 

 Cereals, Peas, Plums, Apples, and other plants. Among other interesting 

 crosses, that between the Gooseberry <? and the Black Currant ? pro- 

 duced 28 hybrids, all similar in character, and intermediate, except that 

 they are thornless, as in the Currant, odourless, and bear fruits singly, as 

 in the Gooseberry. The Gooseberry saw-fly and mildew, neither of which 

 affects the Black Currant, attack the hybrids strongly. Wheat crossed 

 with Rye gave a sterile hybrid closely resembling Rye. A series of new 

 varieties of Pyrus were produced by crossing P. Maulei with a semi- 

 double variety of P. japonica. The hybrids were intermediate in size, and 

 very variable in size and hue of flowers, one of which had large semi- 

 double scarlet flowers. A hybrid between the Sand Cherry (Prunus 

 pumila) and the cultivated Plum (P. americana) gave the Rupert Cherry, 

 which resembled the Cherry, except that it had an elongated stone like 

 the Plum. Of fifty fruiting hybrids between the Siberian Crab {Pyrus 

 baccata) and garden varieties of Apples, eight were found to be worthy of 

 cultivation by reason of their size and quality. 



Hybridising Gladiolus Species. By W. Van Fleet, of New 



Jersey. 



Dr. Van Fleet records the results of sixteen years' active hybridisation 

 among many species of Gladiolus. Altogether 150,000 seedlings were 

 raised, and although many beautiful and promising novelties were 

 obtained, yet only two of these were thought worthy of naming and 

 putting into commerce. These were ' Princeps,' raised from G. cruentus 

 x G. x Childsii, a fine scarlet-crimson feathered below with white and 

 cream, a flat circular flower 6 inches in diameter, with a vigorous habit of 

 growth, and a flowering period of nearly five weeks. The other one is 

 known as ' Lord Fairfax,' a direct cross between G. purpureo-auratus 

 and G. Saundersii, with a long curving spike of Indian red flowers with a 



