IMPROVEMENT OF THE SEED. 181 



have large tanks containing an enormons volnme of 

 salt vvatei", demanding conseqnently a great loss of time 

 and a considerable expense. Mr. WalkhofF considers 

 that if we ascertain a proportion between the quantity 

 of sugar and the saline elements, we can then make a 

 most excellent selection ; this should never be lower 

 than 75 per cent., in other words, in 100 of solid sub- 

 stance indicated with the Baume's areometer, there 

 should exist at least 7o of sugar. Beets might in- 

 dicate much sugar and saline matter at the same time, 

 and would then have no practical value, as the propor- 

 tion between the two would indicate. 



The largest seed growers in France are Deprez & 

 Co., where the roots are selected according to the sugar 

 they actually contain. The tests are made under the 

 direction of Chas. Viollette^ of the FacMlU des Sciences 



' Mr. VloUette supposes the beet an exact surface of revolution, engendered 

 by the triangle ABC, and that the sugar contained increases in an arithmetical 

 })rogression from D to C. If L M be an infinitesimal cylinder parallel to the 

 axis CD, according to the above hypothesis the point .S", middle of the same, 



Fig. 36. 



will have an average amount of sugar for this small element. The same argu- 

 ment will apply to 0, when the cylinder having the axis D C is considered. 



