92 FORAGE CROPS IN DENMARK 



various strains which had been placed in Class I. at the Com- 

 parative Cultivations. By the year 1916 root seed of a variety, 

 without mention of the strain, had become almost unsaleable. 

 While it is easy to recognise the different varieties, by their 

 shape, colour and other external features, it is difficult to 

 recognise the different strains of the same variety, as their 

 external characteristics do not differ very much ; the difference 

 is found in the different yield when grown under similar 

 conditions. 



Since the year 1910 almost all root seed used in Denmark 

 has been of Class I. strains of Danish production. But while 

 seed merchants sold seed of Class I. strains they were careful 

 not to guarantee that the seed was of the strain it professed to 

 be. Most merchants had on their invoices and other trade 

 documents a clause stating that they gave no compensation 

 if the seed should be found to be different from what it was 

 stated to be when sold. The Danish seed merchants were not 

 peculiar in this. Most seed merchants in other countries did 

 the same, and do so to the present day. In England, America, 

 New Zealand and elsewhere a clause such as the following is in 

 common use : " We give no warranty, expressed or implied 

 as to description, quality, productiveness or any other matter 

 of any seed we send out, and we will not be in any way 

 responsible for the crop. If the purchaser does not accept 

 the goods on these terms they are at once to be returned." 

 As far as Great Britain is concerned, this has been altered by 

 the Seed Order of 1917, but only so far as the analysis thereby 

 required. The description of the seed, the productiveness, the 

 yield of the resulting crop, for root seed especially the genuine- 

 ness of seed as to strain, are all matters about which no warranty 

 is given. 



As has already been said, J. E. Jacobsen, of F. D. B., had 

 in 1906 introduced in the seed trade the Guarantee of Genuine- 

 ness, that is to say, that the F. D. B. when selling root seed 

 gave a full warranty that the seed was of the strain stated, and 

 that the F. D. B. took full responsibility for the productiveness 

 of the seed, guaranteed that the resulting crop of roots would 

 be of the strain stated, yielding the amount of food-stuff per 

 acre which the circumstances as to the soil, mode of cultivation 



