PREPARING SEED BEFORE SOWING. 197 



while No. 6 had 76.8 lbs. nitrogen and 115 lbs. phos- 

 phoric acid. An interesting conclusion respecting these 

 results is, that by planting near together the bad effects 

 of sodic nitrate, when used in excess, may in a meas- 

 ure be overcome. 



The sixteen to eighteen inches between rows and 

 ten-inch spacing in rows appears to be the most favor- 

 ed among Continental beet farmers of Germany, 

 Austria and France. This arrangement allows about 

 nine beets per square yard, or one beet per square foot, 

 corresponding to nineteen to twenty tons to the acre, 

 supposing each beet weighs one pound. When efforts 

 are made to obtain ten to twelve beets upon the same 

 area, the results are not, as a general rule, very satis- 

 factory. The idea of i6x 16 inches, so as to allow a 

 thorough working between rows by use of the culti- 

 vator, would result in large roots, but of a doubtful 

 quality. Wh£n it is desired to have only five to six 

 beets per square yard, under almost the conditions just 

 mentioned, the best results appear to be obtained 

 with 15.7 X 16.4 inches. 



Germination in the Soil. 



In previous pages we have mentioned the fact that 

 from the time the seeds are placed in the storerooms 

 to dry, etc., until they are planted, they remain in a 

 condition of torpor, from which they awaken as soon 

 as they are placed in the proper environment for excit- 

 ing a return to their former vitality. The germ and its 

 requisite food are made visible under the microscope. 

 When the three requisites, air, moisture and heat, are 

 furnished, the white point, showing the first signs of 

 life, soon finds its way through the pericarp. The age 

 of seed has a very important influence upon the vital- 

 ity; a few words respecting this question are of interest. 



IVIr. Fred Knauer has made some interesting 

 experiments in this direction. Eight beet seeds of 



