Sugar-beet seed germinates unsatisfactorily, largely because the true seeds are enclosed in tough woody coats. Experiments at Cambridge have been carried out to test whether treatments of the seed, which remove some of the coat, are beneficial. The general results indicate that such treatments are commercially sound, especially when seeding conditions are dry. Treatment with strong sulphuric acid, which can only be carried out by seed merchants, is effective: it accelerates and increases germination, giving a greater plant population at harvest, and this normally leads to larger yield. Increases up to 2 tons of unwashed beet per acre have been obtained.