48 FORAGE CROPS IN DENMARK 



swedes, and carrots. The grower was to sign a declaration 

 showing his production of seed during the previous three years, 

 the origin of the strain, how long he had grown it, his method of 

 improving the strain by selection or otherwise, with some other 

 information. After cultivation the samples were to be divided 

 into three classes in the way explained on page 38, and the 

 names of growers of seed in Class I. were to be published in the 

 annual reports in Tidsskrift /or Planteavl, 1 the official journal 

 of the State Committee. As it was impossible to find room at 

 the Experimental Stations for samples of all the kinds of roots, 

 these were divided into two groups, so that in 1900 and 1901 

 only samples of Barres, swedes, and carrots were grown ; in 1902 

 and 1903 Elvetham, Eckendorf, and turnips; then in 1904 and 

 1905 again Barres, swedes, and carrots, and so on. As these 

 plants are biennial, each seed grower usually worked with two 

 strains. It was considered advisable to give the growers a 

 chance of having both strains tested. That is the reason why 

 the same kind of root was tested two years in succession, although 

 each sample was to be grown only for one year. The samples 

 were drawn in November-December by Helweg personally, 

 15 Ibs. of mangel seed, 3| Ibs. of seed of the other kinds, and 

 sent in bags sealed by him with the official lead seal of the 

 Committee. Each sample was divided in two equal parts, of 

 which one was kept for future reference, while the other was 

 divided in three equal parts to be sent to the three stations 

 where they were to be grown. After harvest the roots were 

 examined, weighed, and analysed, the samples classified as 

 explained, and a full report published in the following June, 

 giving names of growers of samples of Class I. A reprint of the 

 report was sent to each of the competing seed growers. Besides 

 the names and addresses of the growers or " owners " of the 

 strain, a full description of every strain in Class I. is given in 

 each report, with detailed information of its origin, mode of 

 selection, yield, and so on. The strains are generally called 

 by the name of the grower's farm or by that of the village. 



In 1900 27 strains of Barres were entered, 5 of swedes, 

 and 4 of Champion carrots. For comparison's sake several 

 samples of seed of the same varieties were bought from 



1 See that periodical, from 1902 to 1911. 



