Improvement of Farm Crops

Abstract

AT the annual general meeting of fellows of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany at Cambridge on July 27 the chairman of the Council, Mr. E. W. K. Slade, presented the John Snell Memorial medal to Dr. Kenneth M. Smith, entomologist of the Potato Virus Research Station, in recognition of his valuable research work on the virus diseases of the potato. Mr. Slade afterwards described some parts of the work of the Institute which particularly appeal to him as a practical grower. Crop improvement work is impossible until agriculturists know the material they are dealing with. Thanks to the Potato and Cereal Synonym Committees farmers are unlikely in future to be misled by a fine new name into buying an old variety which they have already given up. Mr. Slade welcomes the active co-operation which the Institute is receiving from the seed trade; by doing away with fictitious names, and putting on the market pure seed of improved varieties, each under a single name, merchants contribute greatly to the general welfare. The principal part of the Institute's task is to find out which of the new varieties that come to it are best in yield and quality and in which districts they should be grown. This is work which farmers cannot do for themselves. Many crops are being studied and a feature of this season is the inauguration of widespread trials of mangolds and swedes with the help of the seed trade. Mr. Slade finally referred to the assistance given by the Official Seed Testing Station in the scheme for the registration of wild white clover seed.