112 SUGAR-BEET SEED 



other types of seed grown in nearby fields. In any 

 commercial field of beets in this country there can be 

 found from six to twenty distinct types of beets, 

 varying in shape, texture, habit of growth, color, 

 sugar content, purity, etc It is found that when 

 these beets are classified according to type and planted 

 for seed, they reproduce true to the type of the 

 mother. Inasmuch as some types yield better results 

 than do others, it necessarily follows that the highest 

 general results only can be secured by beginning at 

 the very foundation and producing our own elite seed. 

 As well expect to secure satisfactory results by mix- 

 ing the breed of Jersey, Holstein and Durham cattle 

 instead of breeding them separately and building up 

 each breed, as to expect to secure maximum results 

 in beet culture from a mixture of types of beets. 

 Starting with the best elite seed to be had, the result- 

 ant beets must be separated and classified according 

 to type, the best types must be improved by selection 

 and cross breeding from year to year, and from these 

 constantly improving and highly developed types, 

 produce our commercial seed. Instead of deteriorat- 

 ing when planted in this country and allowed to re- 

 produce, the new crop of seed frequently has produced 

 richer beets than were the mothers from which they 



