154 



SUGAR BEET SEED. 



placed on a red-hot shovel; if they burn slowly, one 

 may conclude that they are old and almost worthless. 

 The operation should be repeated upon several sam- 

 ples taken from the same sack; if the same results are 

 obtained, the bag should be refused. On the 

 other hand, if the seeds jump and produce a cracking 

 sound or noise, they may be considered worthy of 

 undergoing the germinating test. A series of exper- 

 iments of this kind would soon show just what the pro- 

 portion was of new and old seed in the sample. 



Influence of the Size of the Seed on the Quality of 

 the Beet and Yield Per Acre. 



For many years past, there has been considerable 

 discussion to determine whether or not the size of the 

 seed has an influence on the resulting roots. Whether, 

 in other words, large seeds yield beets of a higher 

 saccharine percentage than small ones; whether the 

 farmer has any advantage in using one size rather 

 than another. For it must never be forgotten that 

 seed which is known as beet seed, as previously 

 explained, is, in reality, a cluster of several seeds, and 

 the germs from some are extremely varied. Hence, 

 the reason why there is such a variety of opinion upon 

 this subject. The early experiments of Simon 

 Le Grand were apparently very conclusive in favor of 

 small seed — loo large seeds weighed 3.2 grams, 100 

 small seeds weighed 0.425 grams. 



Large Seed.. 



Small Seed.. 



fAugustll 



I " 20 



31 



[September 16. 

 f August 11 



20 



31 



[September 16, 



Weight. 

 Average for 

 Four Beets. 



75 

 125 

 325 

 30 

 60 

 75 

 233 



grams. 



Sugar 

 Per Cent. 



11.4 

 11.8 

 12.6 



12.5 



l^kji:^^^ i>i:iji.i.ii.f ^x xu XdKiij ±^.k> 



Other experiments of the same kind were made 

 ATo,-»u T^. ,,-;„„ tj-^g early stages, the results 



by Marek 



During 



