286 Journal of Agriculture. [8 May, iqoS. 



its aims, it had to follow exact scientific methods. Other organizations 

 were called into existence, principally for dealing with the diseases of 

 cereals, and these carried out researches of a highly scientific nature, 

 because they were necessary for the attainment of practical results. 



Although the aims of the Company were not directly educational, yet 

 thev exercised an influence on the farmers which had that effect. By 

 the exhibition and distribution of pure seed samples, and particularly by 

 means of their experimental fields where the pure and improved varieties 

 were to be seen growing side by side with the common sorts, the f aimers 

 were gradually convinceu of the importance of careful seed selection, and 

 when they sowed the pure seed grains themselves with the result of an' 

 increased harvest, conviction became a certainty. The Station at first 

 concerned itself principallv with the introduction of new and A-aiuable 

 kinds from foreign countries. They purchased and tested the best-known- 

 varieties of the cereals, and when founa suited to- the local conditions, 

 they were multiplied, exhibited, and recommended, and finallv given tO' 

 the trade. The success was so great that another company was started 

 for other parts of Sweden than the south, but after existing for four years, 

 it combined with the original companv in 1894, which then took its present 

 name of the Seed-grain Society for S^veden. It associated itself with the 

 local agricultural societies which were so impressed with the results that 

 they gave them financial aid, and even the Swedish Government subsidized 

 them, so that they were enabled to extend their operations. There was 

 tnus a commercial as well as an experimental side to the work being done 

 and it was felt that the two could be convenientlv separated. Resides, 

 they entered into competition with the local seed-merchants, and in 1891 

 a separate company was formed for disposing of the imp.ro\ed seed'-grains 

 under the name of the General Seed-grain Trading Company of Sweden. 

 It is under the control of the Seed-grain Societv and receives its seeds- 

 from the experimental fields, so that thev are sold under a guarantee of 

 Ijeing pure and uniform. 



Another point of practical importance must be noted in connexion with 

 the larger field now covered by the Station. It had to provide new and 

 improved races for the different parts of the country and Sweden has not 

 only a wide range of climate but also a great variety of soils. A variety 

 can only be determined as suitable when it is tested under the conditions 

 of soil and climate for which it is intended and no single station could 

 provide the necessary conditions. So while the varieties are produced at 

 the central station, they are sent to other localities to be tested, and such 

 are chosen as are likely to succeed. The local agricultural societies co- 

 operate with the Station in testing varieties and comparing them with 

 the ordinary sorts and considerable improvement has been effected by this 

 means alone. But to meet the want of having varieties directly under 

 their control and of being directly responsible for their purity, they have 

 established two branch stations where the effects and requirements of a 

 different soil and climate can be tested. 



Such is the organization of this important Society, and its methods 

 of working to secure its successful results may now be considered. The 

 Society endeavours to cover the whole field of Swedish agriculture, but 

 we will confine ourselves to the means adopted bv them of producing 

 improved races of wheat. 



At first the methods adopted were such as weie prevalent in Germany. 

 A certain number of ears were taken as samples from each of the varieties 

 grown in the experimental field and each sample was sown on a separate 



