The Sugar-Beet Plant 35 



hand thinning is made necessary. If but one germ were 

 contained in each seed-ball, the work of thinning would 

 be greatly reduced. Attempts have been made to pro- 

 duce strains of seed having a single germ, but these have 

 not proved to be successful. The seed-ball is hard, similar 

 to the shell of a nut, and completely covers the tiny seeds 

 it holds. 



In germination the primary root first appears. Very 

 soon the cotyledons may be seen. The seedling consists 

 of a short hypocotyl, two fleshy cotyledons, and a primary 

 root from which a few fibrous laterals arise. 



