PG 16 PREFACE

COVER

William Weibull (1883-1962)

The cover depicts William Weibull, a member of the Weibull

family of Landskrona, Sweden. William Weibull was managing

director of W. Weibull AB, a widely-known and successful seed

company founded in 1870 by Waifrid Weibull. The business and

research philosophy of that company deserves special notice. It

was at Weibullsholm where basic research flourished alongside the

applied. It was here, for example, where H. Lamprecht, S. Blixt,

and their assoicates enjoyed the freedom and support that led to

their timeless contributions to the basic understanding of pea

genetics and cytogenetics. Moreover, these and other research

findings were freely communicated, even though they were generated

within a private commercial firm. William Weibull and his nephew

Gunnar were staunch exponents of the philosophy that fostered

fundamental research. Their dedication to this philosophy was

in fact so strong that, even when the company ran a deficit, the

directors' salaries were cut 25% while the basic research policy

remained intact. Such sustained, enlightened support deserves to

be recognized.

William Weibull joined W. Weibull AB as a plant breeder in 1908

and became a member of the board of directors in 1911. He was

managing director from 1946 to 1962. Gunnar Weibull, a fourth-

generation Weibull, was also a director of the company until his

death in 1964. Gunnar Weibull was an influential spokesman for

Plant Breeders Rights and helped in the creation of the European

system; he was also a champion of resource conservation.

(Background information for the above was kindly provided by

Stig Blix and Peder Weibull. Elaine Gotham executed the drawing

from a photograph provided by Weibullsholm.).

PNL Volume 16

1984

PREFACE

Membership

PREFACE

The Pisum Genetics Association (PGA) is a non-

profit, unincorporated organization established to

facilitate the exchange of information and to ensure

the preservation of valuable genetic stocks. The

number of PGA members now stands at 191.

Membership in the PGA is open to all interested

persons. Dues are $10.00 for two years (U.S.

currency) and are used to help defray the costs of

publishing the PNL. Members are encouraged to pay

dues for two or more years to simplify bookkeeping.

Please make prime bankers checks or money orders

payable to Pisum Genetics Association and send to

G. A. Marx, Department of Horticultural Sciences, New

York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva,

NY 14456, U.S.A. The PNL will be sent upon receipt

of dues.

Once again we extend our hearty thanks to

Mrs. Frances VanKirk and Mrs. Mary E. Porterfield for

carrying out their tasks with usual proficiency.

Because the Preface to the PNL often contains

information that may be regarded as routine, proce-

dural or ceremonial, readers may not peruse the

contents on a regular basis, if at all. Recognizing

this, I have chosen to use "A Letter from the Editor"

as means of drawing attention to a matter affecting

the very survival of the Pisum Genetics Association.

Simply put, our financial solvency is threatened.

The problems and the proposed solutions are outlined

on page 2.

The financial report for the period 4/1/83 -

3/31/84:

Balance on hand 4/1/84 986.74

Dues collected: 728.00

Thanks

Editor's

letter

Financial

report

Expenditures:

Postage 258.25

Publishing costs 562.90

Bank charges 39. 53

860.68

Balance on hand 3/31/8A 854.06

G. A. Marx

for the Coordinating Committee:

S. Blixt L. Monti

W. Gottschalk I. Murfet

E. Gritton B. Sharma

G. Marx B. Snoad





	COVER

	William Weibull (1883-1962) The cover depicts William Weibull, a member of the Weibull family of Landskrona, Sweden. William Weibull was managing director of W. Weibull AB, a widely-known and successful seed company founded in 1870 by Waifrid Weibull. The business and research philosophy of that company deserves special notice. It was at Weibullsholm where basic research flourished alongside the applied. It was here, for example, where H. Lamprecht, S. Blixt, and their assoicates enjoyed the freedom and support that led to their timeless contributions to the basic understanding of pea genetics and cytogenetics. Moreover, these and other research findings were freely communicated, even though they were generated within a private commercial firm. William Weibull and his nephew Gunnar were staunch exponents of the philosophy that fostered fundamental research. Their dedication to this philosophy was in fact so strong that, even when the company ran a deficit, the directors' salaries were cut 25% while the basic research policy remained intact. Such sustained, enlightened support deserves to be recognized. William Weibull joined W. Weibull AB as a plant breeder in 1908 and became a member of the board of directors in 1911. He was managing director from 1946 to 1962. Gunnar Weibull, a fourth- generation Weibull, was also a director of the company until his death in 1964. Gunnar Weibull was an influential spokesman for Plant Breeders Rights and helped in the creation of the European system; he was also a champion of resource conservation. (Background information for the above was kindly provided by Stig Blix and Peder Weibull. Elaine Gotham executed the drawing from a photograph provided by Weibullsholm.).