TESTS IN MARYLAND. 19 



It is of especial interest that these two unproved, acchmated, 

 and related strains when crossed in 1909 should give a first-generation 

 cross of much greater yielding power than either parent. This 

 first-generation cross pro(hiced better than any of the other first- 

 generation crosses and better than any of the other varieties tested. 

 It is the only cross that produced far better than either parent in all 

 four tests. By these tests the value of the seed of this particular 

 first-generation cross for tlie conditions prevailing at these points in 

 Maryland in 1910 has been demonstrated. These two strains are 

 now being crossed extensively in producing seed for general planting. 

 This cross-pollinated seed is designated " First-Generation Cross No. 

 182." 



The third and last advantageous cross of the 14 crosses, as classi- 

 fied in Table TV, is the same cross that gave origin to Cross 120 

 which, after six years of selection and adaptation, produces some- 

 what less than the first-generation cross of the same parents made 

 in 1909, after each parent has undergone six years of selection and 

 adaptation. This fact mdicates that it is more j^rofitable to acch- 

 mate and improve the parents of an advantageous cross separately 

 and cross them yearly to obtain seed than to cross them once and 

 then rely upon the acclimatization and improvement of the cross. 

 Furthermore, since Cross 120, after six years of improvement, when 

 crossed with Selection 119 gives a first-generation cross of superior 

 productiveness, it would seem that the recrossing of a cross some- 

 times gives better seed than the crossing of the origmal pure-bred 

 varieties. The advantage may be due to adaptation, as one of the 

 original parents. Hickory King, has not been adapted to conditions 

 near Washington, D. C. 



DISADVANTAGEOUS CROSSES. 



The Whitecap variety is adapted to conditions in Delaware, where 

 it is quite extensively grown. It yields a very large ear, with a 

 large cob, and yellow kernels with white caps. Neither in weight 

 of ears as harvested nor on a water-free basis did the first generation 

 cross of Whitecap and Selection 119 produce, as weU as the male 

 parent. 



The Illinois Learning, though a pure selection from the Ohio 

 Leaming, is now very unlike it in appearance. The Illiriois Leaming 

 is of a rougher type, with broader kernels. According to pounds 

 of ears at harvest the crosses of the two strains of Leaming with 

 Selection 119 fell below the male parent in production. The Illmois 

 Leaming cross did not produce as well as the Ohio Leaming cross, 

 and the grain contained more water at harvest time. Making the 

 comparison of yields on a water-free basis the Ohio Leaming cross 

 is advantageous and the Illinois Leaming cross is disadvantageous. 



218 



