426 Report of the Department of Horticulture of the 



races were represented — better in yield of good corn than the 

 average crop. The increase was thought to be maintained the 

 second and third years, but after the second year, the relative pro- 

 portion of the poor corn increased. In 1889, Denton (12) made the 

 following statement in his article on sorghum hybridization: " In 

 regard to the effect of crossing varieties, it can be said that it 

 seems to increase the vigor of the plants sometimes in a wonder- 

 ful degree. The crossed canes are often much larger and taller 

 and often have much heavier seed-heads than either parent form." 



Many conclusive statements have been published on the bene- 

 ficial effects secured in first-generation crosses of corn ; but since 

 these works are so well reviewed by G. N. Collins (8) it is only 

 necessary to call attention to his article. Among the papers 

 noticed those of C. L. IngersoU (19), J. W. Sanborn (26), G. W. 

 McCluer (21), G. E. Morrow and F. D. Gardner (22, 23), C. P. 

 Hartley (16), G. H. Shull (29, 30, 31) and E. M. East (13, 14) 

 are well worthy of study. 



In addition to these positive proofs in regard to the increase of 

 vigor and yield, we find other statements in recent articles on 

 breeding which confirm the belief that the principle is not re- 

 stricted to a few genera and species. Dr. H. J. Webber (32), 

 in a paper on cotton breeding published by the American 

 Breeders' Association, writes: '^ The hybrids of the first genera- 

 tion where a fuzzy-seeded type of upland was used have almost 

 uniformly the following characters : They are taller, larger, and 

 more vigorous than either parent, and have leaves in general inter- 

 mediate in shape." 



A. D. Shamel (28) in the same publication, but one year later, 

 makes the statement: " Self-fertilized tobacco seed, the result of 

 the closest possible degree of inbreeding, has been conclusively 

 demonstrated by four seasons' experience and experiments in ex- 

 tensive fields of different varieties of tobacco to produce more 

 vigorous plants than seed cross-fertilized within the variety. 

 Crosses of different strains of tobacco, however, give increased 

 vigor of growth, leaf and seed production." 



