116 The Sugar-Beet in America 
seeding does not produce a uniform stand, it is often 
desirable to re-seed. It may be that the crop will have 
to be planted several times. One of the chief causes of a 
poor stand is a crust which forms at the surface after the 
seed is planted and before it comes up. If the seeding is 
light, the single plants may have difficulty pushing 
through, whereas a heavier seeding would place several 
plants near each other and together they could break 
through the crust. 
Many kinds of mechanical devices are used to break 
the crust. The roller is often employed. A very effective 
implement consists of special wheels running directly 
over the rows. These have spike points or knives which 
penetrate the crust sufficiently to enable the tender 
plants to come through without disturbing the soil enough 
to injure the seedling. 
