367 F 
richness than the parent plant, and he followed out the course for a few 
years, until his ‘ pedigree” roots would in the average produce double 
and eventually even treblethe yield of sugar. He thus established a new 
kind of beet, which bears his name, and is now known as the “ Vil- 
morin Improved.” ‘This root is partially colored, the skin being pink or 
reddish, and it grows considerably out of the ground. 
Doubtless hundreds of other growers followed similar, if not the same 
plans, and the consequence has been a wonderful increase in the rich- 
ness of the root in sugar. 
It is not to be supposed that the general seed-grower will adopt this 
extreme course, but the fact of the possibility of improvement being 
once established, each grower will observe for himself and adopt his 
own course, and thus a greater or less degree of success and constant 
improvement will be certain to follow. 
Of one thing we may be pretty sure, namely, that as the entire root 
increases in specific gravity so will its richness increase, and therefore a 
selection of the roots for seed becomes a comparatively easy matter. 
The following plan may be pursued: Get a tub of water; make 
the water so thick with sugar that the richest root will barely sink in 
the mixture; then, as you dig and wash your roots, try all those you 
mean to keep for seed in this sweetened water. Those which sink, select 
for seed ; those which float, reject, and let them at once go to the mill to 
be ground into pulp for sugar. 
All the roots which you intend for seed should be again thoroughly 
washed so as to get rid of the medicine in which they were immersed, 
and they should then be carefully stored for setting out in the spring to 
produce seed. _ 
ft is necessary to make the trial of the root as soon as dug, because, 
let them be ever so carefully stored, some roots will dry more than 
others, and then those which dried least, although they might be poorest 
in sugar, would show the greatest specific gravity, while those which are 
richest in sugar might, if too much dried, show a light specifie gravity. 
There are various other methods by which those who observe closely 
will easily ascertain which of the roots are richest, and will thus be able 
to select, without so close a trial, the most promising roots. 
The fact once ascertained that improvement is possible will surely 
lead to improvement being made. 
Another great fact must be specially borne in mind, that the roots 
which are intended for seed must not on any account have their tops 
eut off. The outside leaves should be removed, but the small heart- 
leaves should not be removed or injured, for by so doing you injure the 
future stalk which is to bear the flowers and seeds. 
It is also important to note the fact that the lower ends of the roots 
and the parts covered with earth are far richer in sugar than the tops 
and parts which have grown out of the ground. This difference can be 
made apparent by any one in the following manner: Take exactly the 
one-seventh of a pound of the root, that is, 1,000 grains, (this is done to 
show the specific gravity ;) attach it to a very fine wire or silk by a small 
hook, which is to be attached to a scale-beam such as is used for weighing 
medicines, (the scales need not be removed,) but have a corresponding 
piece of wire or silk attached to the other end of the beam so as exactly 
to balance. Then immerse the piece of root which has been attached 
to the wire in water, so that it hangs free from the sides of the vessel, 
and is at about the center of the water, and put in the other scale. 
weights until they just balance the piece of root; you will find that the 
piece of root, when-cut from the top of the bulb, will be sc arcely heavier 
