930 JUHIJX-DAXNFELT 



rather low, probably not averaging more than 12 cwt. of hay per acre.. 

 Of late years, following German example, the grass-lands have begun to be 

 used for grazing on rational lines, producing a considerable increa.se in 

 their yield. 



Seeds. — Grain and leguminous (pea, bean and vetch) seeds as well as 

 seed potatoes are obtained from home crops exclusively. Until lately on the 

 other hand, seeds of forage plants (including root crops) were mainlj^ im- 

 ported. This is of course a weak point, but it does not mean that with the 

 majority of these plants there is any difficulty in growing good qualit}^ seeds 

 within the country. On the contrary, Swedish seeds are held in high esteem 

 because of the certainty of their being suited to the country, and of the 

 guarantees obtainable as to purity. 



With regard to pasture grasses, the majority of the most common spe- 

 cies, timothy, red clover and hybrid clover are cultivated. Red clover is 

 distinguished into the early and late varieties, the former being used for 

 sowing leys of i or 2 years duration, particularly in southern Sweden, and 

 the latter for longer periods. Both late and hybrid clover seeds are grown 

 chiefly in the country, while those of early red clover are almost entirely 

 imported. They are termed " Silesian clover seeds ", but they are also 

 imported from Bohemia, Moravia, and especially Russia. French, Italian 

 and American red cloveis are wanting in powers of endurance, and are 

 therefore not rated ver}^ high. To facilitate verifying the origin of seeds, a 

 law of 1909 provides that red clover, hybrid clover and timothy seeds must 

 when imported be dyed red with eosin. »Seeds of pasture grasses (except 

 timothy seeds) and for root crops are still mostly imported, but during the 

 last few years the most common forage plants in addition to timothy such 

 as cocksfoot, rye grass and brome grass, as well as radishes, turnips, carrots 

 and sugar and forage beets have begun to be grown for seeds to an ever 

 increasing extent and with perfect success. 



Seed testing. — There are 17 establishments receivi'';g Government 

 grants and operating according to official regulations which arc substanti- 

 ally the same in Scandinavian countries. This testing has been carried 

 on for 40 years (since 1877), and as a result the quality of the seeds put 

 on the market is generally fairly satisfactory, and adulteration is rare. 



Yields. — The averages in Sweden (wheat, 16.72 cwt per acre, T\e 12.74 

 barley 12.74, oats 11.94, potatoes 79.65, sugar beet 238.96, for?ge roots 

 278.78) are almost the same as the average figures for Europe. They are below 

 those of other Germanic countries, but higher than of Slavonic and Latin 

 countries, excep: Belgiiun. These averages, however, like the level of 

 agriculture, vary greath in the different parts of the countr}'. In the best 

 regions the> approximate to the crop value of the coimtries leading in this 

 respect. The constant increase of yield recorded during the last decade 

 justifies the hope that progress will continue. 



This progress in yield is largely due to the fact that the old seeds 

 have been replaced by better grades coming mainly from the Svalof Insti- 

 tute, which enjoys the highest repute even outside the country for 



