by expert corn breeders 
Behind Pioneer hybrid seed corn stands a 
vast breeding program—built up through 28 
years of hybrid corn breeding experience. 
This year alone, Pioneer corn breeders hand- 
pollinated 350,000 plants, made 1,100 new 
double-cross hybrids, worked with 400 
inbreds. 
DETASSELED 
12 to 18 times 
Pioneer seedsmen inspect their seed- 
fields for tassels every day during polli- 
nating season. Every seed field is detas- 
seled from 12 to 18 different times—not 
just six or seven times. This extra detas- 
seling care means_purer seed, added vigor 
and increased yields for Pioneer custom- 
ers. 
TESTED 
before you get it 
Pioneer corn is pre-tested for maturity, 
yield and standability. You get only the 
best hybrids—selected from thousands of 
tested varieties. Pioneer breeders, this 
year, observed for visible characteristics 
and tested for general performance about 
3,000 experimental hybrids—in addition to 
the 1,100 crosses mentioned previously— 
in 150 special hand-planted trial plots. 
INSPECTED 
ear-by-ear 
At processing time, hand-sorters exam- 
ime and re-examine every seed ear that 
comes from the seed fields. They shell off 
kernels that won’t grow—remove scuffed 
and cracked grain—throw out chaffy and 
other undesirable ears. Stronger germina- 
tion, better stands and higher yields result 
from these strict inspections. 

