138 



BREEDING CROP PLANTS 



some of the more recent Turkey selections are nearly as hardy. 

 In the large number of crosses that have been studied since 1902 

 there is an outstanding fact worthy of emphasis from a plant 

 breeding viewpoint. Of the different crosses made, none proved 

 as winter-hardy as the Odessa-Turkey combination, although 

 numerous crosses between other winter wheats were studied. 

 This shows the necessity of studying carefully prospective paren- 

 tal material to determine what should be used. When Odessa 

 was used it furnished an hereditary complex capable of with- 

 standing severe winters (Hayes and Garber, 1919). 



FIG. 29. Turkey, Minn. 529. Grown in 1918. 



very badly. 



This variety winter-killed 



At University Farm and at Waseca one of the Odessa-Turkey 

 crosses, Minhardi, (Minnesota No. 1,505) has proved more 

 winter-hardy than the Odessa parent. This cross also possesses 

 very high yielding ability but the quality of seed is somewhat 

 inferior. Its ability to yield is probably inherited from the 

 Turkey, which yielded high in favorable seasons. Minturki 

 (Minnesota No. 1,507) is a bearded wheat obtained from a cross 

 of Odessa with Turkey. It is somewhat less winter-hardy than 

 Minhardi but it excels in quality and yielding ability. Table 

 XXXI presents data on some of the more promising forms of 

 winter wheat for Minnesota conditions. 



