RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 41
In this lecture he also refers to his father, who
taught his sons the breeding profession. Money
played almost no role as far as his father was
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concerned:
‘If I take my pick from the many names of those
who were engaged in this activity at the time (the 19th
century), I have to mention, without wishing to do harm to
other persons not mentioned: Nanne Sluis, Anthonie van
Namen, Pannevis, and I consider it my privilege to also
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include my father, Mr R. Zwaan Sr.
They, and with them many others, took this very seriously,
especially considering the times in which they lived. Their
dedication may certainly still serve as a shining example
for our time. I think it is not far from the truth to say
that these men did their work out of an innate love for the
craft. Whether they always calculated the cost of this in
advance I don’t know....’
In this speech, Rijk Zwaan also reiterates his ideas
about the breeding profession and the methods
to be followed. Just as sixteen years before, in
his booklet on breeding work, Rijk Zwaan rejects
mass selection as a breeding method. In 1931,
he still characterises it as follows: ‘It has nothing
to do with selection as such’. In 1947, he says
the following on the subject: ‘Doing nothing or
Cover of report and section of ‘lecture’ by Rijk Zwaan
restricting ourselves exclusively to the old method
at 1947 IVT Breeding Convention.
(mass selection) would lead to economic disaster’.
For Rijk, it has long been clear that if one is serious
about selection methods, the application of
cross-breeding is an absolute necessity. His fellow
plant breeders reluctantly adopt this method
after the war. Thanks to his early start, Rijk Zwaan
manages to keep slightly ahead. Incidentally, he
also points out another very important factor that
leads to breeding success: the grower’s experience.
‘This experience is precisely what will enable
him, if he continues his work, to use the means at
his disposal to develop the profession so that it
reaches the highest heights,’ he said.
His experience also ensures that the company
1948-1949
continues to develop in the right direction in
the coming years.
1945-1960 | Reconstruction | A bitter pill
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