2. Status of Connecticut Sweet Corn Hybrids. Possibly the maize geneticists will be interested in an item regarding the practical phase of genetics. Sweet corn hybrids developed by the Connecticut Experiment Station are increasing in use each year. In 1940 approximately 500,000 pounds of seed were produced. This amount is sufficient to plant 50,000 acres or 10% of the total sweet corn acreage in the country. More than 95% of this production had C13 as one parent. This is an early inbred almost immune to bacterial wilt. The use of this inbred in the early hybrids has practically solved the bacterial wilt problem for early corn. This inbred was first distributed in 1936, 73 pounds being sold. Four years later it was used in the production of approximately 475,000 pounds of seed. The three principal hybrids comprising this inbred are Spancross (C4.13). Marcross (C6.13) and Carmelcross (P39. C13). Considerably more seed will be produced in 1941 as well as seed of three new hybrids, C23.P39, C27.P39, and C15 x C13. A letter of March 3 from one of the leading producers of hybrid sweet corn seed states that now Marcross (C6.13) is second to Golden Cross Bantam in poundage, and that all open pollinated varieties are falling off rapidly. Hybrid corn is one of the best examples of the contribution of Genetics to practical agriculture.

W. R. Singleton