PLANT BREEDING IN SWEDEN 



BY 



Dr. HANS TEDIN 



SVALOF 



THE PRACTICAL PLANT BREEDING IN SWEDEN IS AS TO 

 origin and development intimately associated with the name of Svalof, a 

 village, situated in Skane, the southermost province of Sweden, about four 

 Swedish miles from Malmo. On the initiative of Birger Welinder in Svalof, 

 »The South Swedish Association for the cultivation and improvement of seeds* 

 was established in 1886. The idea won lively adherence so that two years later 

 the Association was enlarged and included the whole country. In 1889 a like 

 association was organized for Middle Sweden, but after five years only, the two 

 associations were united to one organization now officially called the Swedish Seed 

 Association. From an inconsiderable origin the Association has, little by little, 

 attained a great development. It has, as will be shown in the following, been 

 of extraordinarily great importance for the improvement of Swedish agriculture 

 and the increase of its production. Svalof sorts have been proved on trial on 

 both a large and a small scale all over the world, wherever a rational growing 

 of the common cereals, wheat, rye, barley and oats is carried on. In several 

 European countries, and not only in the countries nearest Sweden certain sorts 

 have been greatly spread. 



From north to south, Sweden extends over 14 degrees of latitude. The climate 

 and soil in different parts are therefore very different, and the general conditions 

 for agriculture show considerable variations also. In order to look to the need 

 of different provinces as to better sorts, more suited to their locality and with 

 a higher yield, branch stations were established in different parts of the country. 

 There are now eight such stations, the northermost being situated somewhat north 

 of the 65th degree of latitude, near the town Pitea. The chief aim of these stations 

 is to find out through systematic and comparative field trials, which sorts are best 

 suited to the different provinces, and also to carry on local plant breeding, if such is 

 necessary for the production of still better sorts in the different parts of the country. 



A proof of the interest, which the Association and its work aroused from 

 the very first, are the contributions, which have been given both from private 

 men and from the public. Of the 26 Provincial Agricultural Societies of Sweden 

 one after another began to help the Association, so that in 1890 all of them 

 contributed with large or small sums to the support of its work. From the govern» 

 ment, which during the first years only gave temporary subsidies, the Association 

 has now, since the year 1891, received an annual and from time to time increa* 

 sed supply. The contributions from the Provincial Agricultural Societies were discon* 

 tinued in 1914, but then compensation was given by the government. The supply, 

 which the government last year granted the Association and its branch stations 

 for 1921, was in all 185,600 crowns. 



