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SUGAR BEET SEED. 



tion and classification of mothers, March planting, 

 October harvesting of seed; April, 1898, sowing of 

 seed, and in October, beets are harvested and sent to 

 the factory. So nearly four years elapse before the 

 manufacturer gets the full benefit of his efforts. Under 

 these circumstances, satisfactory results would evi- 

 dently be obtained, but the expense is an important 

 point to be considered. 



In our pamphlet published some time ago, we 

 made the following calculation: If 20 lbs. of seed are 

 used per acre, there would be needed, on an average, 

 35 mothers to produce this seed. A factory working 

 30,000 tons of beets must have under control not less 

 than 3000 acres, and the seed needed would be 60,000 

 lbs. To obtain this, 105,000 mothers would be 

 required. If the method of selection is that adopted 

 by M. Legras, at first not more than one beet in three 

 could be used, so that the number of analyses would 

 be 315,000. If we admit that each analysis costs one 

 cent, the total cost for this work in the laboratory, 

 without considering wear and tear on plant, would be 

 $3150 per annum. To obtain seed from the 105,000 

 mothers, at least 30 acres, at 4000 roots per acre, 

 planted at three feet in all directions, would be required, 

 and such beets could not be properly looked after 

 under $60.00 an acre, or $1800. The allowance of one 

 cent for actual cost is entirely too low; it would in 

 reahty be double that amount, bringing the cost of such 

 analyses up to $6300, and a total cost of the experi- 

 ments at $12,450, which might be a slight saving on 

 the market price of seed. However, we are convinced 

 that there would be considerable money loss to the 

 manufacturer if conducted on the lines that the actual 

 conditions of science demand. On the other hand, if 

 the question of seed production be gradually developed 

 by factories that have the patience, success would, in 

 time, follow. If the ordinary method of selection be 



