BELIEF IN SUPEKIOKITY OF FIKST-GENEEATION HYBKIDS. 9 



stock and its further improvejiient. In the succeeding generations 

 diversity appeared and before the desired uniformity could again 

 be secured through selection the increased vigor resulting from the 

 crossing had disappeared, 



VIGOR OF HYBRIDS A FACTOR OF PRODUCTION. 



Comparatively few recent experiments with a direct bearing on 

 the value of first-generation hybrids have been reported, but all 

 that have been made confirm the earlier results. Taken in connec- 

 tion with the experiments to be reported in the present paper they 

 establish beyond question that the vigor of first-generation corn 

 hybrids is a means of securing increased production that is capable 

 of a very wide application. As soon as the general public becomes 

 acquainted with such a simple and inexpensive means of increasing 

 the yield of this most important crop, a rapid extension of the 

 practice should follow. The great need is for detailed information 

 regarding the particular varietal combinations best adapted to the 

 different local conditions. At present the data are so meager that 

 experiments must proceed empirically, but the lack of detailed 

 information should not obscure the importance of the subject nor 

 stand in the way of utilizing the results already accomplished. 



While it would appear safe to recommend this method to all corn 

 producers, the object of the present bulletin is rather to urge the 

 inauguration of experiments in as many parts of the country as 

 possible. It is much as though the possibilities of increased yields 

 through the application of commercial fertilizers were still unappre- 

 ciated by the general public and experiments to prove their efficacy 

 were being conducted in a few isolated localities. Indeed, the 

 utilization of first-generation hybrids appears to have more general 

 application than the use of commercial fertilizers, but the need for 

 experiments under a wide range of conditions is equally great. As 

 in the use of fertilizers, conditions may perhaps be found where the 

 increase from crossing will be slight or none at all, but even this 

 result should not detract from the fact that under most conditions 

 the increases are significant. 



POPULAR BELIEF IN THE SUPERIORITY OF FIRST-GENERATION 



HYBRIDS. 



Though the possibility of utilizing the vigOr of first-generation 

 hybrids is only beginning to be appreciated from the scientific stand- 

 point, the increased yields that result from crossing have probably 

 been utilized unconsciously since prehistoric times. It is a regular 

 custom among many native American tribes to carefully plant seeds 

 of different varieties in each hill of corn. This is done for the purpose 



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