SELECTING BEETS FOR SEED. 65 



But what he can do is to learn the best shape of a 

 sugar beet, and endeavor to produce such form. 

 Frequently, farmers grow sugar beets from seed they 

 purchase,* and the roots prove to be of an inferior 

 quality. The truth, if plainly told, is simply that 

 the supposed sugar beet was a sort of hybrid rutabaga, 

 containing but 3 to 4 per cent, of sugar, instead of 12 

 to 13 per cent., as would have resulted if there had not 

 been misconception of some kind. The good and bad 

 shapes for beets are shown geometrically herewith. 

 Suppose an axis, A B (Fig. 25), and a line, c d, form- 



FlO. 26. 



ing an acute angle with the same; evidently, if this 

 revolves it will depict a cone, which surface is the type 

 of the tip end of average beets for sugar manufacture. 

 Again, if a curve d B (Fig. 26) is substituted for 

 the line, c d, we shall have a different surface, convex 

 in its character, and the type of the mangel-wurzel, 

 rutabaga, etc., not advantageous for sugar extraction. 

 If the curve, d b, (Fig. 2;^) is convex, and we suppose 



•An important example of this is the experience at the Rome fac- 

 tory, where many of the beets were red, bad low sugar percentages 

 and Trere worthless for the purpose intended. 



