Jl-i SUGAR BEET SEED. 



Reproduction of Beets and Seed from Buds, 



Leaves with Skin, and Also from 



Fractional Slices. 



The beet has undergone endless changes through 

 generations, and the man}' existing types and varieties 

 show just what man can accomplish in helping nature 

 in her evolutionary methods, when superior seed pro- 

 duction is aimed at. 



1st. The essential is to use beets having as nearly 

 as possible the same exterior characteristics and the 

 same physiological tendencies. 



2d. To prevent formation of hybrids during 

 flowering. 



3d. To give special care to agricultural methods, 

 thus allowing the plant to complete its normal 

 evolution. 



The usual German and French methods of supe- 

 rior seed production consist in planting the best type 

 of superior beets separately, and the seeds from these 

 form the basis of special patches; constant observations 

 are made during their development. If only a few 

 roots in each patch promising the most favorable 

 results were alone kept, the method of selection would 

 be very costly and the results obtained would be doubt- 

 ful. While this method, under proper care, keeps out 

 all roots showing signs of atavism, it is not desirable, 

 in most cases, to push the selection beyond the third 

 generation. The systematic bud method is not only 

 feasible, but promises considerable success. It is also 

 possible to graft pieces of skin on other beets. It fre- 

 quently happens that necks of beets after harvesting 

 are sliced off and left on the field ; these are exposed to 

 the frosts, etc., of the winter and still retain their vital- 

 ity and in the spring will actually take root and 

 yield seed. 



Beet Seed from Buds. 



We were among the first to call attention to the 

 new departure in the production of beet seed from 



