RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 14
The 1925 ‘order book’, for example, already
Perfectionist
contains exact instructions for the construction
This is where the true Rijk Zwaan emerges, a real
of a ‘propagating frame’ for growing cucumbers
perfectionist who pays close attention to every
and tomatoes. The entire process is meticulously
step of the process. Besides wanting to sell his
described, from making the propagating frame
seeds, he also wants to make sure that the quality
to pricking out and then harvesting. Part of the
of the harvest from his seeds is excellent. This is
description reads as follows:
only possible when the grower treats the materials
with care. To be assured of this, he is generous with
‘After the tendrils have reached the side of the
his advice. Moreover, he sells seed only after first
container, here too the heads are taken out so
having the seed sown by various market gardeners
that lateral tendrils can develop. One should
so that he is convinced of its quality. At the farm of
also ensure that sunlight can reach the plant
his brother Hendrik in Enkhuizen, he selects new
easily by cutting away super昀氀uous leaves…’
seed and then has it grown. Particularly all the
home-grown cucumber varieties sold by Rijk Zwaan
are grown by his brother Hendrik. Rijk wants to
supply only products he has cultivated himself,
which is no easy matter given his extensive range.
In the 1927-1928 catalogue, however, he is already
able to write proudly:
Early history of
plant breeding
‘… so that we now produce nearly all items
of any signi昀椀cance ourselves.’
His endeavour doesn’t just affect the quality of his
Plant breeding in the (Dutch) horticulture sector is still in its
seeds – the catalogue itself is also given a much
infancy in the 1920s. Apart from mass selection, hardly any
more modern look. By 1927, a four-colour photo-
other methods are used. The main reason for this is the lack of
graph adorns the front cover, a relatively expensive
a scientific basis.
affair at the time.
The first person to attempt to write about the origin of
different species was the English natural historian Charles
Rijk Zwaan is not easily satisfied with the existing
Darwin. After travelling around the world and conducting
quality of the seed he supplies. To achieve better
extensive research, in 1859 Darwin published his famous book
results, he is becoming increasingly active in
The Origin of Species, which describes the origin and develop-
seed breeding. His brother Andries has also been
ment of plant and animal species. In 1868, this was followed
breeding plants for quite some time, especially
by a book about diversity in domestic animals and cultivated
spinach and pea varieties, and he too is focusing
plants. However, it would not be until 1925 that an expedition
increasingly on improving the varieties he sells.
led by the Russian botanist Nikolai Vavlov with convincing data
came back about the origins of cultivated crops.
Custom selections
Even before 1927, Rijk Zwaan had been using a
number of test plots to study seed selection.
Whereas in the past the words ‘our own cultivation’
in catalogues was a type of quality assurance, the
term ‘selection R.Z.’ appears more and more often,
meaning that the seed is not just grown in-house
but also selected by Rijk Zwaan himself.
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Rijk Zwaan | Moving forward together
