HOME-GROWN BEET SEED. 223 



at Schuyler, Neb., which station was established with 

 the view of improving the quality of beets, etc. The 

 physical selection from roots was obtained from a 

 standard variety of seed; the beets were divided into 

 three classes: ist, those of not less than 12 per cent. 

 and not more than 15 per cent.; 2d, those from 15 to 18 

 per cent., and 3rd, the Elite class, those containing 

 over 18 per cent. 



As a result of the analysis, 5091 beets were 

 accepted for the production of seed and 11 79 were 

 rejected. (Certain changes occurred during siloing 

 with Vilmorin's Improved, there being apparently an 

 increase of o.i in sugar percentage ! With Desprez 

 and Klein-Wanzleben, there had been no change.) The 

 roots selected, were put in the ground, which had been 

 properly prepared. Great care was taken to keep the 

 higher grades at a considerable distance from the oth- 

 ers, so as to prevent contamination by the distribution 

 of pollen from one plant to another. 



The weather being very dry and the temperature 

 high, the seed matured rather earlier than was. 

 expected, the quantity and yield being thus reduced. 

 In 1892, also, ■ experiments were made; the calcu- 

 lated yield of seed to the acre was 968 lbs. On the other 

 hand, the yield of 1893 was smaller, it being 863 lbs. On 

 account of the high quality of the seed, it was sold to 

 the Oxnard Beet Sugar Company at a price far in 

 excess of that paid for the best imported seed. The 

 sum received for the seed was at the rate of $172.60 an 

 acre; this was only for the low grade, the high grade 

 being kept for the experimental work of the future. 

 Owing to the limited area devoted to the experiments, 

 no exact data could possibly be obtained as to its cost 

 of production. Seeds worth $150 an acre can be pro- 

 duced in America. This is the issue upon which the 

 Department of Agriculture places special stress. 



Dr. Wiley, in a recent Bulletin, No. 52, discussing 



