thumpnasty those crosses sound pretty good. Nice choices.
On the comment of 1st male to flower does seem to have something too it. However there is often no real reference to gauge the decision on. If say you popped 20-30 one could make a good decision based on law of averages. Most of us dont have this kind of room. However, With many of the genetics we are using are so good, the selection is getting easier.
Structure and vigor are really I feel the most important. Resin and smell are then secondary for me at least. Smell and vigor for me is of equal importance. And I have then culled some to most of the males by the time they are really to flower. I will not choose a runt male. Ever. I have dont this in the past for one reason or another and have found that progeny will suffer in some form or another.
Keeping the male around is also important for the need to judge the stud qualities.
I am about to kick out a bunch of crosses Using 2 Magic Merlin males. Crosses with, XXX og, pre-98 bubba, NL#5, F-13, Humboldt Express, MM, MMbx2, and Purple Pineberry(if i fine a nice one), Banana Smack(selected females). Banana Smack, from Billy Goat, males will be used to make F2s. I have 2 males of polar opposites, large vigorous branchy open growth. The other is 1/2 as tall and nearly twice as wide, extremely dense very large wide leaves and excessively strong stems. These will also be used to make some selected crosses, the same as the merlin x's
Sorry about the tangent, just excited to see what we will get.
Peace