166 



THE SUGAR BEET\ 



(a) lost, whatever be the distance between roots, will 

 be greater in the squares than in the lozenges (the 

 small circles representing the maximum limits of ex- 



Fiar. 32. 



Fig. 33. 



Seeds placed in lozenges. Circles 

 represent the portion of the soil from 

 which the root draws its nourishment ; 

 a is the soil not utilized, and conse- 

 quently lost. 



Seeds placed in squares. Cir- 

 cles and a represent the same 

 as in fig. 32. 



tracting). The latter is most excellent where weeding 

 oan be done by hand (labor being cheap), but for Amer- 

 ica space is less important than the cost of working the 

 ground. The rectangle (figs. 34 and 35) is preferable, 

 as horses can enter between the rows, facilitating the 

 working of an instrument for weeding. Dr. Peter- 

 mann, of Belgium, has studied this question of dis- 

 tance for years, and we consider him an authority. 

 "We are in hopes it may be of interest to the reader, 

 and for this reason we give the results of several series 

 of his experiments : — 



