SEED 251 



is grown expressly for weaving, the seeding 

 is relatively dense. The most important 

 textile fibre grown in the British Isles is 

 flax, and if it is the intention to work up 

 the product into linen, a larger quantity of 

 seed is used than if the object is the pro- 

 duction of linseed. 



The density of the stocking, if not the 

 quantity of seed, has great influence upon 

 the quality of such roots as swedes, mangolds, 

 and sugar beet. These roots are all valuable 

 for the sugar that they contain, and it is 

 found that the percentage of sugar is lower 

 in large roots than in small ones. In the 

 case of swedes and mangolds a superior 

 quality of root may not compensate for 

 much reduction in the yield ; but in the 

 case of sugar beet it is the custom to cultivate 

 the crop in such a way that small-sized roots 

 are produced, and these are not only re- 

 latively richer in sugar, but, collectively, 

 give a larger output of sugar per acre. 



