SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—M. 511 
actual corresponding result obtained on the produce of the 190 pairs of N.I.A.B. 
field plots is, PA/SA==-959, both in terms of available brewing material per acre. 
The limitations of the conclusions to be derived are obvious and afford abundant 
matter for discussion. 
Prof. R. G. SrapLepon.—Improvements by New Varieties. 
Recent years have seen great developments in the breeding and selection of 
herbage plants. In Denmark and Sweden the work is being pursued by public 
institutions and by private seed houses, and in Germany to a large extent by private 
individuals and Farmers’ Associations. In this country the breeding of herbage 
plants is receiving attention at both Edinburgh and Aberystwyth, and at the 
hands of a few of the large seed houses. Selection work with European species 
which have proved their worth is in progress at the new station in New Zealand, and 
in South Africa Dr. Pole Evans is engaged upon critical studies of the species indigenous 
to South Africa. 
The work in progress in all countries seems to point to one fact of outstanding 
importance, namely, that the most suitable material for breeding from is that 
indigenous or proper to the country for which it is desired to produce improved 
strains. Although, for example, it is well known that oats like Crown and Victory 
bred at Svalof, in Sweden, have proved of outstanding value in this country, the 
indications are that even the best strains of rye-grass and cocksfoot bred at Svaléf 
are not really well suited to our conditions—not as well suited as, for example, Akaroa 
cocksfoot from New Zealand, or as strains built up from our own indigenous stocks. 
In this connection it is interesting to remark that the Akaroa cocksfoot in effect 
represents a selection from our own indigenous stocks, since 60-80 years ago—when 
the species was originally introduced into New Zealand—the seed of commerce was 
largely ‘ wild’ seed and had not been reduced to any standardised type. 
It is important to emphasise that indigenous means proper to a particular country, 
and that consequently it does not follow that pedigree indigenous strains gua pedigree 
indigenous strains have an outstanding value outside the range of territory for which 
they have been explicitly produced. There is a tendency in the trade to use the 
word ‘indigenous’ almost synonymously with the word * wild ’—no matter where 
‘wild’ or where ‘indigenous’: this, if persisted in, can only lead to confusion and 
disappointment. 
A striving in the direction of improving our herbage species is, then, world-wide, 
and in view, firstly, of the regional applicability of the products of improvement, and, 
secondly, of the difficulties connected with the proper seed production and adequate 
isolation of pedigree strains in the case of cross-fertile plants, a highly interesting 
and somewhat difficult situation with somewhat intricate international ramifications 
has occurred. 
Every country will, of course, be wishful to extend the sale of its own productions 
over its own borders, and the word pedigree as such, when applied to seeds, un- 
doubtedly gives a certain status and enhanced value to the seeds so categorised. 
It has to be remembered that in the past, and that still to a large extent, the seed 
trade is conducted very much on an international basis—seed changing hands 
largely on the basis of sample and price, and without due regard to inherent suitability 
on the basis of strain. 
There is, then, a real danger of this movement towards the production of pedigree 
strains of herbage plants defeating its own ends—a danger that can only be met by 
traders and farmers alike fully appreciating the inner significance of pedigree, and by 
judging every pedigree product on its merits for the particular purposes required. 
Organised seed production and organised trials of the various introductions 
would seem to be an absolute necessity. It is interesting to remark that in Germany 
the tendency is in the direction of forming Farmers’ Seed Growing Associations, and 
of encouraging farmers to grow their own seed under supervision—the idea rather 
being that every characteristic locality should as such be self-supplying in the matter 
of the pedigree strains of herbage species best suited to its particular needs. 
This much in any event is certain, the handling of seed on sample only is an 
antiquated method of procedure, and the seed trade of the world will be driven 
by sheer necessity to adjust itself to making its large scale transactions on an entirely 
