191 1.] The Cultivation of the Sugar-beet. 



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water, and should possess a purity of 97 per cent. Of 100 

 " seeds" or fruits, 60 at least should germinate within five 

 days, and 80 after fourteen days, while they should furnish 

 about 150 healthy seedlings. The energy or speed of ger- 

 mination is of great importance, quick germination indicating 

 good sound seed. 



The standard of the Association of the German Sugar 

 Industry is in the following terms (Knauer and Holirung, 

 1906) : 



1. One kilogram (22 lb.) of sugar-beet seed must yield at least 70,000 

 seedlings in 14 days. 



2. Of these at least 46,000 must have germinated in 6 days. 



3. Of 100 "seeds," or fruits, 75 must have germinated. 



4. The water-content is normal up to 15 per cent, inclusive ; the 

 seed is saleable up to 17 per cent, inclusive, but from 15 to 17 per cent, 

 the extra weight of water must be made good. 



5. Foreign substances are fixed at not over 3 per cent. ; seed con- 

 taining up to 5 per cent, of foreign substances may be sold, but from 

 3 to 5 per cent, the excess of weight of such foreign matter must be 

 made good. 



6. Infraction of only one of the clauses 1 — 5 renders the seed un- 

 saleable. 



7. Differences in testing shall be decided by the average of a new 

 test on the part 01 the station which made the disputed test, and a test 

 undertaken in the Association's laboratory. 



Sowing.— The time of sowing depends upon local climate 

 and soil. In France it varies between the beginning of April 

 and the second week of May, mid-April, perhaps, being 

 about the usual time. In East Prussia seeding seldom begins 

 before the end of May, while in mid-Germany it is usually 

 completed by the middle of May. The seeds are drilled on 

 the flat in the same way as turnips or mangolds, or they may 

 be dibbled in several together at regular distances apart, and 

 about § inch deep. The quantity of "seed" used is about 

 26 to 35 lb. per acre in Germany, and 18 to 26 lb. per acre in 

 France, when drilling is practised, but dibbling requires only 

 about one-third to one-half as much seed, and may therefore 

 prove much less costly. The amount of seed varies with the 

 width between the rows, the period of sowing, the soil and 

 climate, and especially the value of the seed. 



The question of spacing has received much attention, but 

 the width between the rows must be sufficient to permit er sy 

 hoeing, while the variety grown and the condition of the 



