CHAPTER XL 

 Home-Grown Beet Seed. 



Of late, special sugar journals have recommended 

 that we produce all the beet seed needed for home 

 consumption. In theory it is a capital idea, but in 

 practice most difficult to carry out. No one writer 

 more than this author has urged and maintained the 

 theory that special seed should be grown for special 

 environments. It was, furthermore, argued, that if it 

 were possible to devote special money to the practical 

 working of the suggestion, it would, in time, be found 

 very remunerative; and the complicated mother selec- 

 tion might be worked on a scale which would be to the 

 advantage of all interested. Many instances could be 

 given of special beet seed retaining the names of fac- 

 tories where this local seed cultivation has met with 

 success, and without borrowing instances from Ger- 

 many or France; the Alvarado achievement in this 

 direction is an important example to the point. 



Just whether the best results that could be obtained 

 have as yet been reached, either in California by private 

 parties, or under Government supervision at experi- 

 ment stations, remains to be proven. Every one 

 who has looked into the subject of beet cultivation, 

 knows that by proper selection excellent seed may be 

 obtained. It would certainly be possible to produce 

 in the United States all the beet seed needed for exist- 

 ing factories. If such a course be followed, it would 

 at present be ruinous to the American beet-sugar 

 industry, unless undertaken by or under control of the 

 factory. Those who discuss the problem have fre- 

 quently only a very limited knowledge of it. A visit 



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