17 



to blame for their indifferent success in foreign lands and so conceived the 

 idea of producing seed of pure and constant sorts by a process of continuous 

 selection, crossing and other scientific means, and of making this seed avail- 

 able in quantity to the farmers of his native land. In this way it was hoped 

 that a more rational system of seed production would be developed at home 

 and that eventually there would take place a substantial export of improved 

 Swedish seed to other countries. His ideas seemed logical and were readily 

 and quite widely accepted. The question became a national one and much 

 interest was evinced. 



Ably supported by another public spirited gentleman in the person of 

 Baron Gyllenkrook, a large landed proprietor in the neighborhood, Mr. 

 Welinder proceeded to interest others in the work until soon a little band of 

 earnest-minded men gathered together and organized on April 13, 1886, the 

 South Swedish Association for the cultivation and improvement of seeds, 

 with Baron Gyllenkrook as President and Mr. Welinder, as Secretary. At 

 first this Association was intended to affect only the southern part of Sweden, 

 but soon it was seen to be too popular to suffer such restriction and its name 

 was accordingly changed on November 30, 1887, to the "General Swedish 

 Seed Association " with a correspondingly increased scope. 



In 1889, another Association (Central Swedish Seed Association) was 

 organized independently at Qrebro in middle Sweden,*) to serve the needs 

 of that part of the country, it being thought that an organization so far 

 south as that at Svalof could not do justice to the whole land. In 1894 this 

 Association handed over its work to the southern association with the under- 

 standing that the latter would extend its activities so as to meet the needs 

 of the central districts. The Association at Svalof now had a clear field 

 and again changed its name to the Swedish Seed Association which name it 

 still holds. 



The membership of the Association is composed of honorary members, 

 life members and annual members. The fee for annual membership is five Membership. 

 kronor ($1.35). All members receive the Association's Journal (Sveriges 

 Utsddesforenings Tidskrift) which is now published, as a rule, every second 

 month, 'and such other publications as are occasionally edited. In addition 

 to this, the Association assists members in various ways, such as by giving 

 advice on questions pertaining to crop-raising, etc. No actual work is 

 required of members since practically all breeding and selection work is 

 done on the grounds of the Association, either at the headquarters at Svalof 

 or at the Branch Stations. 



The affairs of the Association are administered by the following officers : 



(a) An Executive Council (Mindre Styrelse) consisting of not less than Administm- 

 seven and not more than twelve members and three vice-members. t ^ on - 



(b) A Board of Directors (Storre Styrelse) consisting of the honorary 

 members of the Association, all the members of the Executive Council and 

 a representative from each Agricultural Society which contributes towards 



* By " Middle Sweden," as used in this paper, is meant that part of Sweden lying between parallels 

 of latitudes 58 and 60. 



