182 



Sale of Seeds in Germany. 



[JUNE, 



great. The Register, therefore, aims at giving protection to 

 the breeder in another way, viz., by giving him the exclusive 

 right to describe his seeds as "Entered in the Pure-bred Seed 

 Register of the German Agricultural Society," and to use a 

 legally protected trade-mark. All important agricultural 

 plants are admitted to registration, except potatoes, in regard 

 tqt which the identification of varieties presents too many 

 difficulties. 



For admission to the Register, proof of the work of selec- 

 tion over a number of years is required, while the value of 

 the variety for agricultural purposes must be shown by inde- 

 pendent trials. The Admission Committee consists of three 

 experts of the first rank, and provision is made for the con- 

 sideration of disputes as to right of entry. 



The regulations provide that only plants which are the 

 result of systematic selection are to be admitted, and by this 

 is understood the continual utilisation with a definite object 

 of variations in form on the basis of transmission by heredity 

 by individual selection alone, or in combination with scientific 

 crossing. Thus the so-called pedigree breeding, by the 

 repeated selection of seed of the best plants, or crossing with 

 a view to combine the desirable properties of different 

 varieties, are both recognised. In order to prove that the 

 variety is not a chance production, detailed records of the 

 work of selection must be produced. Secondary growers of a 

 variety are not admitted to the Register unless they can prove 

 that they have effected an improvement in the original form. 



The Regulation which requires the agricultural value of the 

 variety to be shown by independent trials prevents any worth- 

 less sorts being entered, and these trials are carried out by 

 the German Agricultural Society itself, or by some recog- 

 nised experimental station. 



The registered seeds are sold by the Seed Bureau, and it 

 will be understood that the effect of the system is not only 

 to protect the grower, but also to assist the farmer by direct- 

 ing him where to procure the best seed. The Bureau is under 

 the scientific direction of Dr. Hillman, and, according to a 

 statement recently made by him, the number of plant-breeders 

 in Germany amounts to about 100. 



"Recognition " of Reliable Varieties. — The basis of this 



