158 SUGAR BEET SEED. 



gram, which means that their weight may vary from 

 0.0097 grams to 0.07 1 4 grams. It is to be noted that 

 such variations in weight do not exist with any seed 

 in the whole field of botany. Pagnoul says that the 

 average number of seeds per two grams is 105, which 

 means that the average weight of individual seeds is 

 about 0.018 grams. One bushel of beet seed weighs 

 only sixteen to twenty-one pounds. Without doubt, 

 the varieties of beets and the methods of cultivation 

 have certain influences on the size of the beet seed. 

 The period of duration of flowering must also not 

 be forgotten. 



Another fact not to be overlooked is, that the size 

 of the seed depends upon the number of germs it con- 

 tains; the average may be considered as five. These 

 vary, being one, two, three, and even ten. Briem 

 declares that he has in his collection a single seed 

 which weighs 0,249 grams. While Pagnoul admits 

 that 105 seeds weigh two grams, Bretfeld, an equally 

 high authority allows only 90. However, the differ- 

 ence is very slight between these two authorities, as 

 by the latter it is admitted that 100 seeds weigh 2.22 

 grams. With small seeds during certain years it 

 requires 103 to weigh one gram, while, on the other 

 hand, 24, or even 22, of the largest may also weigh 

 one gram. Hence, the reason why, some years ago, 

 there was a thorough understanding that large seed 

 should be those in which forty-five were equivalent in 

 weight to one gram; small seed those where this num- 

 ber is greater. This leads to entirely different results, 

 from the purchaser's standpoint, to those which would 

 be obtained by the Knauer size of seven m. m. to 

 five m. m. method mentioned in previous pages. This 

 authority declares that the weight of beet seed is 

 largely influenced by its condition, or degree of its 

 maturity. One liter of Imperial Knauer (eleven per 

 cent, moisture) weighs 185.34 grams (seven ounces 

 per quart). 



