Production of Sugar-Beet Seed 217 



These figures show that between a third and a half of 

 the seed required was produced in the country during 

 1916 and 1917. Considerable of the remainder came 

 from Russia through Siberia. Since the reserves of seed 

 stored in the country have gradually decreased, it will 

 be necessary to rely entirely on the home supply until 

 seed can be obtained from Europe. 



DISADVANTAGES OF IMPORTING SEED 



The importation of seed is attended by many disad- 

 vantages. In the first place, the entire beet-sugar in- 

 dustry is threatened in times of war, when, for any reason, 

 it would be impossible to import seed. This condition 

 cannot fail to detract to a great extent from the stability 

 of the industry. Perhaps the most important disad- 

 vantage of imported seed is that the breeding has been 

 done for conditions unlike those in which the beets are 

 to be raised. Since the climate and soils of Europe are 

 different from those of the beet-growing sections of the 

 United States, there is doubtless a great loss in yield and 

 sugar-content due to the foreign seed not being entirely 

 suited to local conditions. When the source of supply 

 is not near at hand, there is likely to be difficulty in ad- 

 justing any little business differences, which at times may 

 become annoying. In times of scarcity of good seed, 

 there is also a likelihood that the best will be held in 

 Europe for home-planting and inferior seed sent to 

 America. 



Tests made at Schuyler, Nebraska, as early as 1893, 

 gave better yields of beets with higher sugar-content 



