34 The Sugar-Beet in America 



large. This means that, while there is a tendency of the 

 large beets to be low in sugar and the small ones to be 

 high, this relation does not always hold. In some dis- 

 tricts large beets may have a very satisfactory sugar- 

 content, whereas in others this may not be the case. 



FLOWERS AND SEEDS 



The sugar-beet produces perfect flowers. The arrange- 

 ment of parts is shown in Fig. 7. The stamens are partly 

 attached to the perianth- ring. Pollen is readily carried 



Fio. 7. Diagrams showing parts of the sugar-beet flower. Much 

 enlarged. 



from flower to flower by insects, thrips playing an im- 

 portant part in cross fertilization. The ovary is par- 

 tially imbedded in the flesh of the receptacle and con- 

 tains from one to three seeds. The flowers are produced 

 in dense clusters along an axis, resulting in the forma- 

 tion of seed-balls containing a number of seeds or germs. 

 Much extra work is required by this arrangement, since 



