50 FOEAGE CEOPS IN DENMAEK 



sorting of strains of roots had resulted in giving a few superior 

 strains a dominating influence, just as intended. 



But it was pointed out in the reports that the fact of a 

 certain strain coming out on the top, or being classed as a first- 

 class strain, by no means offered a guarantee that this strain 

 would henceforth remain a first-class strain. On the one hand, 

 there was always the possibility that other strains might be so 

 improved as to surpass those previously considered the best ; 

 on the other hand, a strain might deteriorate if not continually 

 cultivated in a way to maintain its high quality. The classifica- 

 tion was, therefore, to be trusted only for a few years after the 

 publication of the report. In order to be sure that a certain 

 named strain was really of Class L, it would be necessary for 

 buyers to know the date (year) of the classification. 



The origin of many of the strains of mangels grown in Den- 

 mark has been traced back to a few samples of seed imported 

 at an early date. 1 The well-known French horticulturist and 

 writer, Pierre Philippe de Vilmorin, of the firm of Vilmorin- 

 Andrieux and Co., of Paris (said to have been founded as long 

 ago as 1727), cultivated on his estate " Des Barres," a mangel 

 which he had improved by many years' selection. He called 

 it " Jaune ovoide des Barres " (oval yellow Barres), and first 

 introduced the seed in the trade in 1853. The mangel was 

 exhibited at the International Exhibition in Paris in 1855, and 

 Prof. B. S. J0rgensen, from the Eoyal Agricultural College, 

 Copenhagen, bought some seed, which he then sowed at the 

 experimental fields of the College, where it was grown for seed 

 for many years, improved by selection, and whence seed was 

 supplied to Danish farmers and seed firms. In 1875 the Danish 

 gardener, Fr. Wendt, bought 15 cwts. of seed of this Vilmorin 

 Barres from Paris. During the following years several Danish 

 firms dealt in seed of this French mangel, and from 1879 seed of 

 it was grown in Denmark and offered for sale. For many 

 years this variety of mangel was largely grown in Denmark, 

 and about the year 1900 it was found to be superior to most o' 

 the competing strains. 



1 The following notes are taken from Helweg's exhaustive work, " De 

 danske Barresstammer " (the " Danish Barres Strains, their Origin and the 

 History of their Development "), in Tidaskrijt for Planteavl, vol. 23, 1916 

 p. 289 ff. 



