232 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xii. no. 5 



These experiments were originally planned with the idea that the seed 

 of a first-generation hybrid might be transferred to a distant locality 

 without showing the reduced yields thought to follow the transfer of 

 pure strains. 



It was believed that with first-generation hybrid seed it might be a 

 matter of indifference where the hybrid was made, provided the parents 

 were suited to the localities where the crop was to be grown.* If found 

 to be the case, this would constitute an important addition to the ad- 

 vantages that follow the use of first-generation hybrid seed, making 

 possible a wider application of the results secured through the work 

 of skilled breeders. 



The results indicate that hybrids made in one locality and grown in 

 another are not only at no disadvantage compared with the same hybrids 

 produced at the locality where the comparison is made but that the 

 introduced hybrid may even be superior. It further appears that the 

 same is true of pure strains and that, after the effects of cross-pollination 

 and selection have been eliminated from the problem, there is a residual 

 effect of the transfer to the new place that tends to increase rather than 

 to reduce the A^gor and yield of the plants. 



NATURE OF THE EXPERIMENTS 



It was planned to conduct the experiments at the following places: 

 Stockton, Kans. ; Victoria, Tex. ; and Lanham, Md. These places 

 represent a wide range of soil and climate. At Stockton, which is 

 in the eastern part of the semiarid Great Plains area, there is a fertile 

 friable soil, low rainfall, low atmospheric humidity, and a prevalence of 

 high winds. Victoria, located in the Gulf region of Texas, has a stiff 

 black clay soil of good fertility. The total rainfall is usually large and 

 the humidity high, though severe drouths are not uncommon. At 

 Lanham, a few miles north of Washington, D. C, the soil is sandy, 

 acid, and relatively infertile. The rainfall and humidity are usually 

 neither deficient nor excessive. In the discussion of results these locali- 

 ties will be referred to as Kansas, Texas, and Maryland. 

 Four varieties of maize were chosen for the experiment, as follows: 

 (i) Stockton, a white dent variety developed at Stockton, Kans. 



(2) Strawberry, a large-eared Texas variety with red and white varie- 

 gated dent seed, well adapted to the conditions at Victoria, Tex. 



(3) Hickory King, a strain of this variety grown in Virginia and well 

 suited to the conditions at Lanham, Md. 



(4) Boone, a strain of "Boone County White," the seed of which was 

 obtained from Illinois. 



In the spring of 191 2 seed of the four varieties were planted at each 

 of the three places named. The precaution was taken to mix the seed 



1 COLUNS, G. N. THE VAI,ue OF FIRST-GENERATION HYBRIDS IN CORN. U. S. Dept. AgT. Bur. Plant 



Indus. Bui. 191, p. 33. 1910. 



