The fact that the commercial mono-germ hybrid obtained by the method outlined would produce multigerm seed and many male-sterile plants if grown to the fruiting stage is of no concern to the sugar producer, since he obtains a new supply of hybrid seed for each crop of roots.

The ultimate goal has been the employment of only monogerm parents in the production of hybrid seed, but multigerm pollinators will continue in use until there is a great wealth of disease-resistant monogerm lines that display a high level of ability to combine.

THE SEED must be of high quality if the full laborsaving advantages are to be realized from the use of monogerm varieties.

In the determination of quality, a multigerm seed was counted as having germinated if it produced a single sprout. Thus a high germination percentage could be obtained with a seed sample in which the actual seed set was low in relation to the number of flowers incorporated in the glomerate fruits.

THE LOW germination percentage of some monogerm lines was a matter of much concern, but the percentage values were higher than formerly obtained with multigerm seed when the basis of evaluation was the number of sprouts in relation to the number of flowers.

Fortunately, the germination of commercial monogerm seed has greatly improved through selection. By proper cleaning and processing, a commercial product of high quality and germination has been made available to growers.

Monogerm seed makes possible single-plant hills along the row. If the drilling rates are right, stands of seedlings can be obtained that are readily thinned by machine or rapidly singled with a long-handled hoe. Monogerm seed should make possible a saving of 50 percent in labor requirements for weeding and thinning.

Some agronomists the more optimistic ones have directed their experimental programs with monogerm varieties toward seeding rates that will give an emergence stand approximating the final stand left to grow for root production.

Weed control in the seedling stage is accomplished by selective herbicides and harrowing; in later stages of growth, by timely cultivation. Hand labor usually is not required for this method of production, because harvesting has been fully mechanized.

Actually, a small, commercial acreage of sugarbeets is being grown with complete mechanization of all field operations. Thus the visionary goal of two decades ago appears to be attainable through the use of monogerm seed and the application of improved field practices.

Field practices for seed production by the winter-annual method have been fairly well standardized. The seed is planted in August and September. The row width is usually 20 or 24 inches. The planting rate is 15 to 17 pounds per acre. The seedling stands are not thinned.

Varietal purity is maintained in the commercial varieties of sugarbeets by the separation of seed fields. If the varieties are similar in certain major characteristics, such as disease resistance, the separation of seed fields need not be greater than one-half mile. For stock seed and elites, especially the sorts that involve male sterility, seed fields should be separated by at least 2 or 3 miles, depending on terrain and climatic conditions.

Curly top, a virus disease, is a major hazard to seed production in the Southwest if susceptible varieties are grown. Virus yellows occurs in all major seed-producing districts and is a threat to production and quality. The combined attack of curly top and virus yellows is extremely damaging. The control of these diseases depends on the control of the insect carriers.

The seed is harvested by machine. In some districts, the harvesters are equipped with front cutting bars, which operate both horizontally and vertically. They cut a wide swath through the tall, bushy plants and draw the mass into a windrow. The windrow, when dry, is picked up by traveling thresher, which separates and sacks the seed and returns the large stems and leaves to the field.

Seed is produced by the seedgrower under contract with a sugar company or a seed company that acts as an agent for sugar companies. The sugar company placing an order for seed production furnishes the elite seed or foundation stock. The seedgrower is paid on the basis of clean seed of acceptable quality.

Processing and grading of seed to give a uniform product of a desired quality are performed by the sugar companies after the seed has been moved from the centers of production.

The seed is usually treated with a fungicide, and sometimes with an insecticide, before packaging for sale to growers.

MARKETING of sugarbeet seed in this country is almost exclusively through sugar companies.

A stipulation in the contract between the sugar producer and the processor requires that the seed planted must be obtained from the sugar company buying the roots. A small amount of sugarbeet seed is used to grow a root crop for cattle feed, and seed for this and other purposes can be obtained also from firms handling seeds of field and garden crops.

New strains and varieties of sugar-beets developed by the Department of Agriculture are released through the Beet Sugar Development Foundation under a memorandum of understanding that covers procedures whereby breeder seed and parental lines of hybrids are increased and enter into commercial seed production for the use of growers.

Varieties and strains arising from the breeding programs of individual sugar companies are recognized as their exclusive property.

The production of sugarbeet seed in this country in 1950 1960 was about 10 million pounds annually. It was grown on slightly more than 3,500 acres. The crop value to the grower was approximately 400 dollars an acre. The farm value of the sugarbeet seed crop was about I.5 million dollars.

Sugarbeets are grown as a source of sugar in 22 States. Returns to growers amount to more than 200 million dollars annually.

DEWEY STEWART became Head, Sugar Beet Section, Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, in 1955, and Leader of Sugar Beet Investigations in 1960. He has been engaged in sugarbeet research in the Department of Agriculture since 1925.