ITS HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT 



BREEDING NEW TYPES 



The process of breeding new types of sugar beets 

 usually is as follows: Some one variation from the usual 

 is noted in an individual beet or in a family of beets. 

 These beets then are photographed and the seed from 

 each " mother" or the outcome of a group of .." mothers" 

 is kept separate and grown separately for successive 

 generations. The selected " mother" first is planted, 

 her seed is sown and the resultant roots are selected, 

 all which differ from the original "mother" being thrown 

 out. By modifying the variations in sugar content, 

 size, shape, leaves, etc., a new family or strain is created, 

 the characteristics of which will be transmitted through 

 several generations, thus attaining one of the main 

 objects, which is constancy. Oftentimes, after the 

 expenditure of years of effort, the accidental introduction 

 of one poor seed beet spoils a whole family. 



Nor can the painstaking work cease after the char- 

 acteristics of a family have become fixed, for while the 

 beet has a tendency to resemble its parent, it may revert 

 at any time and resemble some early ancestor. Any 

 departure from the regular yearly methods of selection 

 and regeneration will cause it to revert to a lower form 



