476 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. XV, No. 6, 
In addition to three crosses above mentioned, a large number 
of self-pollinations was made according to this method. Of 
these self-pollinations about 75 were successful. The chances of 
cross-pollination were small because of the distance between the 
plants and the absence of insects; but it was considered necessary 
to have as large a number of self-pollinated fruits as possible to 
serve as a comparison with other fruits and to furnish pure seed 
for new cultures of plants. 
The soil in which the plants were grown was uniformly of the 
same composition, as it consisted of two-thirds of greenhouse soil 
and one-third dry compost. This greenhouse soil was built up 
after years of experimentation to secure a soil of ideal physical 
condition for use in pots. The dry compost, which was used, was 
composed of one-third blue grass sod, one-third leaves and one- 
third dairy stable cleanings. The greenhouse soil and compost 
mixed together in the proportions given above, were found to 
produce a soil ideally adapted, both physically and chemically, to 
the growth of tomatoes in pots. 
The tomato seeds were first planted in a pot of sterilized soil. 
After the young plants had attained a sufficient size each one was 
transplanted to a separate two- or three-inch pot. As the plants 
grew larger they were placed in pots of a greater size until they all 
came to maturity in the uniform five-inch pots. 
These pots were placed from 18 to 24 inches apart in a long 
row on the benches in the greenhouse. Small bamboo rods about 
three feet in length were forced horizontally into the soil of the 
pots and the plants were tied to these supports with raffia. The 
tops of the upright bamboo rods were fastened with raffia to a 
long spliced bamboo rod which ran above and parallel to the pots 
and surface of the bench and which was firmly fastened to upright 
iron posts that braced the roof of the greenhouse. In this manner 
ample support was given to the plants even when ladened with 
fruit. 
As soon as the fruits ripened they were gathered and carefully 
weighed on a pair of accurate balances. A fruit that has been 
picked for several days will be found to have lost weight by 
transpiration of water. A ripe fruit that has been allowed to 
remain on the vine until it has become soft and started to decom¬ 
pose will also give a diminished weight. Every precaution was 
taken to avoid such diminutions of weight as the fruits were 
gathered as soon as they became ripe and they were always 
weighed immediately after they had been gathered. 
After each fruit had been weighed the polar length and maxi¬ 
mum and minimum equatorial diameters were measured with a 
pair of calipers. The number of locules was noted and the seeds 
were carefully counted and saved. The shape and color of fruit 
