SUGAR PLANTS. 



265 



a high percentage of sugar, varieties have been pro- 

 duced, such as Vilmorin's Improved, which produce 

 yegularly 15 to 18 per cent of sugar. This process 

 has been aided by judicious cultivation and fertiliza- 

 tion. The selection of "Mothers" of a known quality 

 for the production of seed is systematically carried on. 

 Cost of the seed is an important item in beet culture. 



The essentials of a good variety are large yields, 

 high sugar content, purity 

 of the juice and keeping 

 quality of the beets. The 

 beet should have an even 

 texture, smooth outline and 

 symmetrical shape. The 

 typical sugar beet should 

 weigh rather more than a 

 pound, contain 14 per cent 

 of sugar, and 80 per cent 

 of the total solids in the juice 

 should be cane sugar. There 

 is a tendency for the total 

 yield of the beet to decrease 

 with the increase in the per 

 cent of sugar. Extremes in 

 either direction should be 

 avoided. / 



The type of the sugar beet is to be seen in the 

 White Silesian, which is the one from which all other 

 varieties have been derived. It is the variety largely 

 used in Europe. Vilmorin's Improved and Klein 

 Wanzlebener are the two which have been most widely 

 grown in this country. 



It is not at all improbable that the beet sugai in- 



White Silesian Beet. 



