432 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



applied to the unripe stigmas immediately after emasculation gave better 

 results than the usual method of waiting three or four days until the 

 stigma becomes receptive, the proportion cf successes being about 71 per 

 cent, in the former case to about 15 per cent, in the latter. With regard to 

 the question of application, the use of the camel's-hair brush gave slightly 

 better results than when transferred by the fingers. Pollen taken from 

 the anthers just before the opening of the flowers was found to be the 

 best. 



Methods of Cereal Breeding in Kansas. By H. F. Roberts, 



of Manhattan. 



Professor Roberts reviews some of the efforts made in breeding Wheat 

 and Indian Corn in Kansas since 1898. In 1902 an advantageous 

 "mutation" form of Wheat was found in a field of supposed pure 

 strain, having a decided "club " tendency: i.e. in the upper spikelets of 

 the "head " five or more grains were found instead of the usual two or 

 three. This form is now under trial, the object being to secure a variety 

 in which the heads are more completely filled. As a result of crossing 

 varieties of Indian Corn the nitrogen content has been decidedly 

 increased. 



Notes on Plant Breeding in Jamaica. By W. Fawcett, of the 



West Indies. 



Notes on the breeding of tropical plants, such as Pineapples, 

 Bananas, &c. 



It appears that the Pineapple is self-sterile but cross-fertile. Experi- 

 ments were made to breed an improved variety, combining the fine flavour 

 of the 'Ripley' with the market qualities of the 'Smooth Cayenne.' 

 Crosses between these varieties produced forty-three plants, which were 

 variably intermediate in character. Recently 2,000 more seedlings have 

 been raised which are yet too young to show their characteristics. 



In the Banana the flowers are arranged in clusters ; the lower ones are 

 usually all females with long ovaries which ultimately become the fruit. 

 The middle clusters are hermaphrodites with medium ovaries, and form 

 short useless fingers on the bunch. The higher clusters with short 

 ovaries are males. The pollen in both the hermaphrodite and male 

 flowers appears to be perfect. Attempts to cross the Red Banana with 

 the Common Jamaica have produced several seeds, which, however, failed 

 to germinate. 



Experiments in budding superior seed varieties of the M c ngo and the 

 Avocado Pear (Persea gratissima) have been partially successful. 



The Report of the Conference also contains a detailed account of the 

 varied and interesting discussions which tcok place immediately after the 

 reading of each paper. 



An appendix to the Report contains the text of a numher of short 

 papers which were presented to the Conference and read by title, viz. — 

 "Notes on the Breeding of Beans and Peas," by W. T. Macoun, of 

 Canada. " The Improvement of Corn by Breeding," by C. P. Hartley, 



