CORHdELT SREEVm STATION 
^ The Pioneer corn breeding station for the eastern 
cornbelt is located near Herndon, Virginia, on the 
banks of the Potomac, not far from the southern bor¬ 
der of Pennsylvania. Here, Pioneer corn breeders 
are at work producing inbreds and making experi¬ 
mental hybrid crosses from selected open-pollinated 
varieties grown in Pennsylvania and other eastern 
states. 
This experimental work for the eastern cornbelt was 
started in 1937. At that time, a few samples of 
Pioneer hybrid seed were distributed in Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvania. The following year, 1938, 42 
Lancaster county farmers who had planted the hy¬ 
brid samples, or had seen the crop produced from 
them, planted Pioneer seed. So well satisfied with 
the increase in yield and standing ability of their 
Pioneer hybrid corn were these Lancaster county 
farmers that their enthusiasm spread to York, Ches¬ 
ter, Adams, Berks, and other surrounding counties. 
In 1939, Pioneer hybrid corn was planted on 1,317 
Pennsylvania farms. 
To supplement the breeding work at Herndon, two 
large hand-planted Pioneer performance test plots 
were located in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 
1939. Yield, standing ability, maturity, damaged 
grain, and dropped ears are carefully checked in 
these plots to determine which hybrids are best 
adapted for Pennsylvania and Maryland. 
PIONEER HYBRID MATURITY 
® Pioneer hybrids recommended for southeastern 
Pennsylvania are classified under three groups: 
(1) early maturing, (2) medium maturing, and (3) late 
maturing. These groupings are made to meet; first, 
climatic conditions; second, various soil types and 
conditions; third, date of planting; and, fourth, per¬ 
sonal demands of the farmer. 
The medium maturing hybrids. Pioneer 307, 317, 
318A, and 331, have about the same maturity as the 
Lancaster Sure Crop open-pollinated corn which was 
originated in this area. 
The early maturing hybrids. Pioneer 314 and 330, 
mature about six or seven days earlier than the me¬ 
dium maturing group, and the late maturing hybrids, 
Pioneer 313 and 332, mature about five to seven 
days later than the medium maturing group. 
The early maturing hybrids. Pioneer 314 and 330, 
should be used for late planting and for slow soils 
if planted around May 15th-25th. 
Under average climate and average soil fertility, any 
hybrid in the medium maturing group. Pioneer 307, 
317, 318A, and 331, will take full advantage of the 
entire growing season and mature properly before 
the fodder cutting and silo filling seasons if planted 
by the middle of May. 
The late maturing hybrids. Pioneer 313 and 332, are 
recommended for rich or fast soils; and for early 
planting on soils of average to high fertility. These 
should yield maximum tonnage of silage per acre. 
The above recommendations are based on average 
temperature and rainfall for southeastern Pennsyl¬ 
vania and northern Maryland. In abnormal seasons, 
deficiency of rainfall and high or low temperatures 
may vary the maturity of corn considerably. 
R I o isi e E R 
