54 BULLETIN 721, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGRICULTUKE. 
erection of a mill. If this point is kept in mind, some of the financial 
losses and disappointments which investors have experienced in the 
past will be avoided. 
SUGAR-BEET SEED. 
One of the most important factors influencing beet-sugar produc- 
tion is that of seed. Not only must there be an adequate supply of 
seed to plant the necessary acreage for each sugar factory, but the 
seed must be of high grade, that is, it must be capable of germinating 
so that a good stand will be produced, and it must be capable of pro- 
ducing beets of satisfactory yield and quality. The present varieties 
of sugar-beet seed are apparently very much mixed, as indicated by 
commercial fields in all parts of the beet area. Efforts are being 
made at each of tlie beet-seed stations of the Office of Sugar-Plant 
Investigations to produce distinct strains of high quality for selection 
and planting. In connection with this work we are endeavoring to 
increase the yield and quality of the seed and to meet the present 
emergency by increasing the acreage of beet seed. 
Imported seed. — Until within the last four years practically all 
sugar-beet seed planted in the United States was imported from 
Europe. This imported seed consisted of more than 20 so-called 
varieties, many of these varieties being simply strains bearing the 
name of the growers or the locality where the seed was produced. 
There appears to be but little difference in results between the varie- 
ties imported. More seems to depend upon soil and climatic condi- 
tions and the cultural methods used in growing the crop than upon 
the particular variety of seed used. Under present conditions Russia 
is the only foreign country from which beet seed in quantity may be 
obtained, and considerable difficulty is experienced in getting suf- 
ficient seed from that source. 
Home-grown seed. — In recent years efforts have been made to 
produce American strains of sugar-beet seed and to produce them in 
commercial quantities in this country. In 1917 about 5.000 acres of 
beet seed were grown, yielding about 55,000 sacks of seed, while a 
still larger crop of American-grown seed is in prospect for 1918. This 
supply of home-grown seed will do little more than care for the in- 
creased number of new sugar-beet areas that have developed during 
the last two years. Even with an increased home production, we 
must continue to look to foreign countries for a considerable part of 
our beet-seed supply. The importations, therefore, must continue to 
amount to more than 100,000 sacks, of 110 pounds each, if our pres- 
ent acreage of beets is maintained. In order to make our beet-sugar 
industry safe we should produce annually from 16,000 to 20,000 acres 
of seed to supply our present mills. This acreage of seed must neces- 
sarily be increased from year to year in order to care for its expan- 
sion if the American beet-sugar industry is to be made safe and 
permanent. 
