THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY IN" TIIE UNITED STATES. 13 



SUGAR-BEET STAND. 



One of the most important factors in sugar-beet production is the 

 stand at harvest time. A perfect stand of beets with the usual 

 width of row and the proper distance of spacing would consist of 

 30,000 to 40,000 plants to the acre. If each of the beet roots har- 

 vested weighed 1 pound, which is below the average in most fields, 

 there should be 15 to 20 tons of roots per acre. As a matter of fact 

 the sugar-beet stands as a rule are only from 50 per cent to 80 per 

 cent perfect, and the average yield of beets in the United States is 

 about 10 tons. Absolutely perfect stands are not to be expected, con- 

 sidering the many factors influencing the stand and the large area 

 in sugar beets, which is now nearly 700,000 acres annually. However, 

 there should be no difficulty in greatly increasing the percentage of 

 stand, thereby increasing the yield per acre. Careful attention has 

 been given to the factor of stand during the last few years, and by 

 actual count in many fields in all parts of the sugar-beet area it has 

 been found that the stand at harvest time very frequently is as low 

 as 50 or 60 per cent. It is very seldom that a field has more than 80 

 per cent of a perfect stand at harvest time. Many factors influence 

 the stand, some of the most important of which have been carefully 

 studied. 



Beed. — The quality of the seed is a primary factor in the stand of 

 sugar beets. All beet seed imported from foreign countries must be 

 up to a certain standard of germination and purity ; otherwise it need 

 not be accepted. As a rule sugar-beet seed stored under proper con- 

 ditions will retain its vitality six or seven years. Usually we have 

 no means of knowing the age of the seed that is shipped to this coun- 

 try, and it is entirely possible that seed imported is sometimes near 

 the limit of its vitality and if held over for one or two years may de- 

 teriorate in germinating power. It is customary for sugar com- 

 panies to retain a part of their seed from year to year to provide 

 against replanting or to take care of belated contracts. All reserved 

 seed as well as new lots should be carefully tested for germination 

 before it is given out to the growers. If the germination of the seed 

 is too low to produce a good stand of beets at the usual rate of plant- 

 ing, either the seed should be discarded entirely or a sufficient quan- 

 tity of seed should be planted to insure a stand. 



With American-grown seed no difficulty should be met in ascer- 

 taining its age; in fact, all American- grown seed is utilized within 

 a year or two following its production, so that at present there is 

 no danger of the home-grown seed losing its germinating power be- 

 fore it is planted. All American seed, however, should be tested 

 carefully for germination, for the reason that certain conditions dur- 

 ing the process of growth, development, and storage of the seed 



