224 INBREEDING AND OUTBBEEDING 



need, but the advantages gained promise to counterbal- 

 ance any loss in this respect. Theoretically there is little 

 reduction in heterozygosity and presumably little reduc- 

 tion in the incentive towards increased size and produc- 

 tiveness. A great many different possibilities are 

 involved in such double crossing and they have not been 

 sufficiently tested to warrant extravagant claims, but 

 judging by their appearance such doubly-crossed plants 

 are clearly the finest specimens of corn so far obtained 

 under the conditions in which they have been tested. 



The first impression probably gained from the outline 

 of this method of crossing corn is that it is a rather com- 

 plex proposition. It is somewhat involved, but it is more 

 simple than it seems at first sight. It is not a method that 

 will interest most farmers, but it is something that may 

 easily be taken up by seedsmen ; in fact, it is the first time 

 in agricultural history that a seedsman is enabled to gain 

 the full benefit from a desirable origination of his own or 

 something that he has purchased. The man who origi- 

 nates devices to open our boxes of shoe polish or to 

 autograph our camera negatives, is able to patent his 

 product and gain the full reward for his inventiveness. 

 The man who originates a new plant which may be of 

 incalculable benefit to the whole country gets nothing- 

 not even fame for his pains, as the plants can be propa- 

 gated by anyone. There is correspondingly less incentive 

 for the production of improved types. The utilization of 

 first generation hybrids enables the originator to keep the 

 parental types and give out only the crossed seeds, w T hich 

 are less valuable for continued propagation. 



The second phase of the subject of outbreeding in its 

 relation to plant and animal improvement that of wide 



