THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY IN 1920. 15 



quently the seed balls will begin to form; but the plants often die 

 before the seed is mature. If the seed stalks bearing the nonmatured 

 seed are harvested and the seed balls from these stalks are mixed 

 with the matured seed, it is evident that the percentage of germina- 

 tion will be materially reduced. Hot dry winds at the time the seed 

 is forming interfere with pollination and tend to prevent the seed 

 balls from filling and producing viable seed. 



The water supply during the growing season has also a marked 

 effect upon the quality of the seed. If the supply of moisture in the 

 soil is too low, especially at the time when the seed is forming, the 

 seed balls will not fill, and the yield of viable seed will be reduced. 

 In the humid sections where seed is grown we have no direct con- 

 trol over the moisture supply except in so far as we are able to retain 

 the moisture in the soil by proper methods of cultivation. In the 

 irrigated sections, wherever water is constantly available, the mois- 

 ture supply is under the control of the grower. It is not advisable 

 to undertake the growing of sugar-beet seed in those irrigated sec- 

 tions where an abundant supply of water is not available for irri- 

 gation when needed. 



The seed bed. — The condition of the seed bed as a factor influenc- 

 ing sugar-beet stands is of an importance equal to the quality, of the 

 seed. In general, the seed bed should be firm and moist and capable 

 of retaining its moisture under all conditions for a considerable 

 period. To produce such a seed bed the soil should be thoroughly 

 supplied with humus. The ground should be plowed in the fall, in 

 order that it may catch the winter rain and snow, and the surface 

 should be harrowed as early as possible in the spring, so as to retain 

 as fully as possible the moisture in the soil at that time. The seed 

 bed should be worked from time to time to destroy the weeds that 

 may appear, as they rob the soil of moisture as well as of fertility. 

 Just before planting, the seed bed should be thoroughly worked down 

 and firmed, so that the surface will be uniform in texture and in 

 firmness. If the bed is not uniformly firmed, the drill wheels will 

 sink deeper in some places in the field than in others, with the result 

 that some of the seed will be so deeply covered that the plants will 

 not reach the light, or they will be more or less retarded, producing 

 a spotted or uneven stand. The seed should be drilled into the firm 

 seed bed, so that it will be constantly in contact with the moist soil. 

 (PL I, fig. 1.) Poor stands are probably produced oftener by too 

 deep and uneven planting, due to a poorly prepared seed bed, than 

 by any other cause. 



Date of planting. — No specific date for planting beet seed can be 

 given, since much depends upon local soil and weather conditions. 

 In general, however, it has been found that the soil should be warm 



