1921.] The Nomenclature of Agricultural Plants. 173 



uniform plan, and the results are published by the German 

 Agricultural Society. 



It may be remarked that trials are an essential part of any 

 scheme, and the whole subject is dealt with below. 



Denmark. — When reviewing Mr. Faber's book, " The Forage 

 Crops of Denmark," in a previous number of this Journal, one 

 of the present writers drew particular attention to that portion 

 which explains how, in Denmark, there is practically no sale for 

 Root-seed unless it has shown its superior value in independent 

 field trials. The " Guarantee of Genuineness " now furnished 

 by Danish Seedsmen also was the subject of special comment. 

 So great has been the success of these two movements that, afl 

 far as Koots are concerned, all confusion in nomenclature has 

 been completely eradicated ; it is now intended that all other 

 agricultural crops shall receive similar attention. 



Whether " Guarantees of Genuineness " can ever be intro- 

 duced into this country is a question which only the Seed -trade 

 itself can decide, but it is worth pointing out that in Denmark 

 the system originated on the initiative of the trade, and has 

 become more and more popular with them ever since. 



Holland. — The " Society of Agriculture of the State of 

 Holland " undertakes the inspection of crops at all stages, from 

 sowing to marketing, and issues a guarantee of seed which 

 comes up to the requisite standard. 



The farmer who desires to sell seed under this guarantee 

 must obtain his original stock from a source recognised by 

 the Society — either from a pedigree-seed producer of 

 unimpeachable reputation, or from stocks previously approved 

 by an Agricultural Society providing satisfactory guarantees of 

 their value. The seed should reach the farmer in sacks sealed 

 by the producers, when he must notify the Chief Inspector of 

 the Dutch Society of the date and place of the proposed 

 sowing. The Inspector verifies the origin of the seed and notes 

 the land on which it is sown. The crop is subsequently 

 examined just before harvest by an inspector and by two 

 experts nominated by the Society, and is valued on a scale of 

 points, as follows: — 



Trneness to strain and variety ... ... max. 30 points. 



Uniformity of height of plants ,,20 



Absence of weeds ... ... ... ... ,, 5 ,, 



Absence of disease ... ,, 15 



Croneral impression ... ... ... ,,30 



100 



