The breeding of hardy fruits has been the leading work of the Department of Horticulture of South Dakota State College ever since the fall of 1895. Many requests have been received for bulletins containing the record of this work. Many of these are out of print and are no longer available. This bulletin contains a complete record of plant introductions from the beginning of the work up to 1927.

Watermelon, South Dakota No. 1: Introduced 1902. In 1897, while searching in Russia for new seeds and plants for Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, the writer secured seed of 287 varieties of muskmelons and watermelons. The result of the trials at Brookings is given in South Dakota Bulletin No. 67 as follows: Of watermelons, in 1898, 85 American and 63 imported varieties were tested; and in 1899, 100 American and 59 imported varieties were tested. Both years No. 23, U. S. Department of Agriculture, proved to be the earliest and of excellent quality. The melons, although extremely early, were not quite uniform at first, so in 1900 and 1901 the endeavor has been made to fix the type for introduction as South Dakota No. 1.

Watermelons are so easily changed by selection that the new varieties are often used as a basis for new selections. Lack of land has prevented further work with this variety, but it appears to be one of the many early Russian varieties which are distinguished by extra earliness and round form and small size, of value for the northern limits of watermelon culture.

Watermelon, Hansen’s Siberian No. 1.—Introduced 1916. - Smooth, round dark green, very early watermelon with red sweet flesh. From near Semipalatinsk, Siberia.

Watermelon, Hansen’s Siberian No. 2.—Introduced 1916. A fine watermelon from the dry steppe region forty miles southwest of Semipalatinsk, Siberia.

Watermelon, Hansen’s Siberian No. 3.—Introduced 1918. A smooth, round, dark green, very early watermelon with sweet, red flesh. I found this in cultivation in the dry steppe region of Semipalatinsk, Siberia, in 1913. Seed grown at this station 1917. To get a sure stand from a few seeds, plant one seed each in a pot and transplant with a ball of earth.

Muskmelon, Hansen’s Siberian No. 1.—Introduced 1916. A large yellow smooth muskmelon with white sweet flesh, quality very good. Found in cultivation in the driest steppes near Semipalatinsk, Siberia. These melons from Semipalatinsk, Siberia are extra early, since they ripened in that northern region of early frosts.

Muskmelon, Hansen’s Siberian No. 2.—Introduced 1916. Found in cultivation near Semipalatinsk, Siberia. This may prove to be identical with No. 1. More roundish in form.

Muskmelon, Hansen’s Siberian No. 3.—Introduced 1917. Seed obtained on my 1913 trip to the Semipalatinsk Province, Siberia. The skin yellow, flesh white. A specimen weighing eleven pounds was shown at the South Dakota State Fair at Huron, September, 1916. This melon is very early and productive. As tested on sandy soil in Siberia the quality was delicious. Here on the heavy black soil the quality varies, some being good, others not so good. The quality of a muskmelon depends somewhat on the soil. Those who do not like the flavor should try some sliced and fried in butter.

Manchurian Muskmelon.—Introduced 1926. In my 1924 search for pears along the Siberian railway in North China, I secured many small samples of Chinese Muskmelons and other vegetables. In the hands of melon-breeders the muskmelons might be of value from the plant- breeding standpoint as a starting point for new varieties.

Malakoff Sweet Corn.—The first seed of this variety was obtained in Russia in 1897. Some of this seed was grown at this Station and seed was widely introduced. It was noted as the sweetest of all the early sweet corns. The Malakoff has been much modified by cultivation and is still offered by seedsmen. It has been used in the development of new varieties.

Hansen’s Turkestan Radish.—Introduced 1914. Much like a flat turnip in size and form, but with red skin and of remarkably mild flavor. In 1918 I found this as something new, having been brought to Semipalatinsk by the natives of the dry interior of Turkestan about four years previous. A favorite table vegetable when peeled and eaten with butter. A correspondent at Arcola, Manitoba, writes: “The radishes were excellent, of fine flavor. I used six of them at different times and found them to be the best radish for this climate I have found.” This variety attains very large size and appears to be an all-season radish and is now in course of further selection by seedsmen.