100 Messrs Wood and Berry, Selection of seed 



to select for. It probably indicates rather absence of hollows in 

 the root than high content of dry matter and sugar. 



That systematic chemical selection is capable of improving 

 the quality of farm crops is shown by the results of the method 

 when applied to sugar-beet and wheat. That there is need of 

 improvement in quality of English crops is shown by the increasing 

 preference shown year by year by millers and maltsters for foreign 

 wheats and barleys. Work on these crops has already been in 

 progress for several years, and the authors, in view of the im- 

 portance of root crops in East Anglian farming, the ease with 

 which seed can be grown from mother roots which have been 

 sampled and analysed, and the success which followed the 

 application of chemical methods to sugar-beet selection, have 

 therefore turned their attention to the improvement of the com- 

 monly grown root crops, and to mangels in particular, as most 

 nearly allied to sugar-beet, and most likely therefore to be capable 

 of similar improvement. 



The plan of the work was to grow as many as possible of the 

 best known varieties side by side at several stations, and to 

 compare their yield and composition, with a view to deciding on 

 the best varieties for improvement. Having decided on the best 

 varieties, a number of picked roots of these were to be analysed, 

 and the best kept for growing seed. 



The roots were grown at the following stations : 



University Farm. Mangels, 16 varieties. 



Mr Garrett Taylor's Farm, Whitlingham, Norfolk. 



Mangels 8 varieties. 



Swedes 13 varieties. 

 Mr B. B. Sapwell's Farm, Cawston, Norfolk. 



Mangels 8 varieties. 



Swedes 13 varieties. 

 Major White's Farm, Saxlingham, Norfolk. 



Mangels 8 varieties. 



Swedes 13 varieties. 



The authors take this opportunity of thanking Messrs Garrett 

 Taylor, and Sap well, and Major White for their hearty cooperation 

 in the work. 



The sampling of roots for analysis is a subject requiring 

 careful consideration. The method used by the sugar-beet 

 workers is to take a diagonal core or boring through the root 

 along the line A B in figure 1, and this method was used for 

 swedes by Collins (Durham College of Science Report, 1901), and 

 found successful. 



The advantages of the method are that it allows samples to 



