IMPROVEMENT OF THE SEED. 187 



importance of keeping at a distance roots of another 

 variety can be understood. If this principle be not 

 observed the pollen of the inferior plant will fertilize 

 the superior, and it will consequently yield a root of an 

 inferior quality. If, on the contrary, a superior variety 

 be placed in the neighborhood, the effect will be most 

 advantageous, and it may be concluded from these 

 and various other similar experiments, which we can 

 indorse, that the resulting race will for the time being 

 be richer in seed, and that the roots grown therefrom 

 will contain a siigar more regular, etc., than had ex- 

 Fig. 39. Fig. 40. 



Fruit in clusters. Fruit growing upon the stem, 



isted in either. The roots should be placed sufficiently 

 near each other to facilitate their fertilization. The 

 first sign of maturity is when the fruit commences to 

 become brown; harvesting should then take place 

 without loss of time. The ripening will continue if the 

 fruit is exposed to the sun. If one waits until the com- 

 plete maturity, large quantities will be lost, as these 



