386 Improvement of Crops by Selection, [august, 



individual, and only one who has actually seen a number of 

 those plots can appreciate the remarkable differences which 

 become noticeable in such a comparison, but which would 

 remain unobserved in a mixed plot. From these plots it is 

 easy to select the best, which is then transplanted to an 

 isolated place beyond the chance of cross pollination, to 

 provide pure seed for. further trial or for the market. If 

 mutants are wanted, the plants are grown side by side, and 

 the progeny supply materials for selection. The former plan 

 has been in operation only five years, and already three good 

 new elementary species have been obtained. 



These examples sufficiently indicate the scope of the work at 

 Svalof, work which includes all the farm crops. Space pre- 

 vents description of the work of the specialist on potatoes, but 

 it is worth mentioning that the Canadian method of selecting 

 potatoes, which does not seem to have had a fair trial in this 

 country, is highly favoured at Svalof. 



The General Swedish Seed Company. — The production of 

 improved varieties of crops soon out-grew the capacity of the 

 scientific staff to organise the sale of seed and oversee the 

 commercial side of seed production. So in 1891 there was 

 founded the General Swedish Seed Co., Ltd., for the purpose 

 of increasing and distributing the new stocks. Its head- 

 quarters are at Svalof, but its buildings and staff are distinct 

 from those of the scientific society, though so far as its agricul- 

 tural activities are concerned, it is placed under the control of 

 the Society. It can handle no seeds except those supplied from 

 the laboratories, its machinery is approved by the Society, 

 and every sack of seed sold has been inspected, certified, and 

 sealed by the agents of the Society. The Company owns 

 1,500 acres round the trial grounds, and controls 3,700 acres 

 for the further increase of the crops. All crops during the 

 growing period are inspected by officials of the Society, and 

 all seeds sold must pass through the headquarters warehouse 

 of the Company where samples are taken and certificates 

 given. The purity of the seeds sold by the Company is, 

 therefore, beyond criticism. From figures of crop production 

 obtained at Svalof, there appears to be no doubt that the new 

 varieties introduced there have increased the cereal crops of 

 southern Sweden from 30 to 50 per cent., but, apart from the 



