131 



in Sweden chiefly native sorts, apart from the English variety Chevalier 

 which had been introduced by the brewers in the early eighties. The sort 

 commonly cultivated in Middle Sweden was the native variety known as 

 Imperial or often as Plumage barley on account of the peculiar "plume-like" 

 character of awn development. 



Froni 1886 until 1892 the principal barley work consisted in comparing 

 in the large yielding trials and analyzing in the laboratory, many different 

 native and foreign sorts. Chevalier was at this time considered superior to 

 all other sorts both in yield and quality, although it was weak in the straw. 

 Not less than twenty different stocks of this variety were tested in the large 

 trials where results showed that it is, after all, only an average yielding sort 

 as other sorts, notably the English Prentice, excel it. 



Of all barley sorts and stocks tested during these first years only three 

 were subjected to the old system of mass-selection. These were Chevalier 

 from Lerchenburg, Denmark, Swedish Plumage and English Prentice.* The 

 results obtained with these sorts have already been described (See p. 21). 



When the pedigree system was first applied (1892) it quickly served to 

 isolate a large, number of different strains, the most promising of which came 

 into the large comparative trials in 1894.. During the following ten years 

 from 40 to 50 different strains were tested, of which number four were six- 

 rowed and the remainder two-rowed. Of the latter about half belonged to 

 the Nutans type and half to the Erectum. (For definition of these types see 

 page 133.) 



The question of brewing barley has received much attention in Sweden. 

 When the Station at Svalof took up its work, and indeed for many years 

 after, there existed in the country a strong prejudice in favor of Chevalier, 

 a prejudice which emenated from and was fostered by the brewers with great 

 persistance as they were opposed to dealing with many sorts. Experience 

 soon showed, however, that this sort was only suitable for soils which were 

 tolerably fertile, deep, warm and not too stiff. On thinner, colder and 

 moister soils, not only does Chevalier lodge badly but it produces a poorly 

 developed and uneven product. This fact at once clearly indicated the 

 necessity for systematic work, aiming at the production of sorts which would 

 thrive to better advantage under various conditions and at the same time Different 

 give a product which would in each case meet the requirements of the brewer. soris f ' 1 

 In response to this need, implying as it does that a "universal" sort, suitable ^. 

 for all conditions is not to be expected, much work has been done at Svalof 

 with this crop, which has resulted in producing several sorts which seem 

 specially adapted to certain conditions, thus: 



Hannchen, for comparatively light soils. 



Princess, for somewhat stronger so-called "good barley soils" such 

 as that found in Central Skane. 



Primus, an Erectum type, for heavy humus and rich clay soils 

 where the sorts belonging to the Nutans group are too weak in the 

 straw. 



* This sort is known in England under the name Archer. 



