Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-04-24
Bects and Beet Seeds.


Every progressive farmer should
make it point TO start in the right
direction, by raising one, one-half, or
one-quarter acre of sugar beets, SO as
to be ready to produce large quant-
ties whenever beet sugar works or
drying establishments are started in
his vicinity. But to do this let him
exercise due caution to procure gen.
uine sugar beet seed.
Seed growers and seed dealers i'm
Europe, sow the seed broadcast, and
such a quantity rs to have from 1885,
600 to 100000 plants TO the acre,
weighing, on all average, from three
to five ounces apiece. They require
but little cultivation, and when har-
vested little store room. In spring
these stuntcd beets are planted, and
while the roots now begin to develop,
they also begin to develop the seed
which in turn is less developed than
il should be. But these secdmcn are
very careful never to use seed of their
own growth, otherwise Il dwarf race
of bccts woutrs soon he the result.
Many sugar beet manufacturers
grow their own beet seed, and a sur
plus which they sell. The process
followed by them is the following:
In the fall, when the bects are nearly
ripe, experienced men walk over their
extensive beet fields, selecting the
most vigorous appearing specimens,
showing certain qualities in the for
nation of their leaves, by placing
small stick along side. These men
are followed in lcw days by gang
Of farm hands, who gather these bcets
carefully, and after they are trimmed,
deliver them to the seed house. Here
they are scrutized by the men who
selected them, as TO Shape and size,
no inferior shaped or defective root,
nor any which weighs below & or
above . pounds can pass; the rest go
to the factory for sugar. The bcets
selected for their superior leaf forma-
ton, symmetry and size of root, are
immersed in q solution Of common
salt IN water, having a specific gravi-
" Of : Bcaumc. Those swimming
on this brine speedily find their way
To the factory TO bc sliced or grated,
as the case may be, while those which
sink in the brine are now immersed
in n still stronger brine Of Bcaumc.
Those floating on the same. IN turn
are sent TO the factory, while the
select ones are carefully preserved
during winter 20 be planted in spring.
The man who has followed this pro.
cess with the greatest care. thereby
produced race Of bccts which com.
linc with the largest per ccntage OF
sugar they contain, also the largest
yield of hects per acre, and who gave
the bccts in which these two combined
characteristics have become pcrma-
ncnt, the name Imperial Sugar Beet,
more than twenty-five years ago; and
who has ever since applied all his
skill and energy TO produce superior
bects and seed, is the justly celc-
bratcd sugar manufacturer and seed
grower, Fred knaubcr, in Groebors,
whose beGts so far have carried OIL
the palm wherever they have been
grown in competition with any other.
"Thc NilmoTin," n French beet, is
every year grown on experimental
fields alongside OF the Imperial -
and, thoagh showing as high per
ccntagc OF sugar, has invariably q
less yield in tons, and the root being
prongy, having instead Of one cen
trail root three or four lateral ones,
feeds largely on the surface soil.
ERNEST Til. GESSERT.