34 SUGAR-BEET SEED 



cent, of dirt to be sold as seed, the grower usually 

 regulates the cleaning so as to leave in the seed i\ 

 per cent, of dirt, thus complying with the fixed stand- 

 ard and getting paid a good price for a considerable 

 quantity of dirt. 



After being cleaned, the seed is carried by ma- 

 chinery over stalk-pickers, inclined endless belts of 

 cloth, from which the seed rolls away and to which 

 the remaining seed stalks cling and are carried to a 

 chute. 



After the seed has been cleaned, it is tested for 

 moisture, which, under the " Magdeburger Normen" 

 must not exceed 15 per cent, of the weight of the 

 seed. If the moisture exceeds 15 per cent., the seed 

 is dried, usually by artificial dryers, and again the 

 grower is careful not to remove any more moisture than 

 is necessary to comply with the fixed standard. With 

 the moisture below 15 per cent., the seed will keep 

 for five years. 



The " Magdeburger Normen" fixes a standard for 

 germinating power and any seed which does not reach 

 this standard can be thrown back on the grower. 

 If old seed falls below the standard fixed, to render 

 such seed salable, it is blended with seed of higher 

 germinating power, after which it is packed in double 



