PREFACE 



The material presented in this book is the result of a special enquiry 

 made by the writer into the present status of plant-breeding in that part 

 of Northern Europe known as Scandinavia, which comprises the three 

 countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. For various reasons practically 

 all the time available for this investigation (about nine months) was spent 

 at the headquarters of the famous Plant Breeding Institution known as the 

 "Swedish Seed Association" situated at Svalof, a little village in the southern 

 part of Sweden. My remarks will therefore concern very largely the work 

 of this institution, although reference will be made from time to time to 

 endeavors of a similar nature elsewhere. 



The main object of this publication is to give a general survey of the 

 work conducted at Svalof from the time of its inception and to indicate some 

 of the facts and circumstances which have led to the adoption of principles of 

 breeding now recognized at that place. For this exposition I claim neither 

 originality nor completeness. The facts submitted have been taken from 

 printed or private records to which reference is made in practically all cases. 

 The one object has been, in the words of Huxley, " to know what is true in 

 order to do what is right." 



I am also deeply sensible of the great obligation I am under to Prof. 

 Hjalmar Nilsson, director of the Institution at Svalof, not only for permis- 

 sion to investigate the work, but still more for the personal assistance and 

 great courtesy which he at all times extended. In no less degree am I indebted 

 to Drs. Nilsson-Ehle, Hans Tedin, Hernfrid Witte and Mr. Lundberg who, as 

 experts in direct charge of their respective branches, were most untiring in 

 their efforts to present their work exactly as it is. 



While efforts have been made to render the following pages as intelligible 

 to the general public as the nature of the subject would permit, they are 

 addressed primarily to the scientific reader. 



In order more fully to appreciate the difficulties as well as the possi- 

 bilities associated with the production of more useful forms of cultivated 

 plants in Sweden, the reader is commended to study carefully the Appendix 

 in which are considered the geographical position, physiography, climate, 

 precipitation etc., of this country. 



