lo Aug.. 1911.] 



CiiliiTufioii II j S//i^ar B<if. 



kt'])t g<jing and the soil kt 

 <:(mscr\'e(l. 



pt hrokt-n on the surface, the nicjisture will be 



Thinning. 



This, without exception, is the most important act in heet root cultiva- 

 tion, tor upon it depends the whole after success of the crop. The 

 so<.ner it can he done the better ; but. freiierally speaking, as .soon as 

 the plants are obyer\'ed to hax'e made four lea\'es operations should be 

 conunenced. 



'I'he following is an outline of the process:- \\\\\\ a sharj) 4 to 5 in. 

 hoe cut out the young phints so as to leave a 2-in. bunch of beets standing 

 every 4 in. to 5 in. Immediately behind the s])acer wiiii the hoe, come 

 the thinners, who should pull out all beets left in the l)unch, except the 

 healthiest and sirongcsi plant. ']'his should be done bv gentlv pressing 

 th<' fingers around the chosen beet whili; [juding out the others, taking 



THINNING bhtl CKui' Ai MAIJK.A lACiOKV. 



care that the rcxvts are pulled out as well as the leaws. otherwise thev 

 would grow again. 'I'he earth should be carefully but liiiuly pressed 

 around the plant that is left and any weeds in the row should at the 

 same time be eliminated. I'lu- thinner should then i)ass to the next 

 ianiih. (ireat care should be exerci.sed that no douiile pi. nils are left, 

 ihi- di.slance left belwcin the plants should, as nearly as possible, bo 

 8 in., only varying this tlistaiice when a stronger or lietter !)eet is found 

 at a slightlv differing distance. 



In pra(tice. this work is 'lui'klv done and the above rules are not 

 all<»gether ailhered to, ihiniiers often ijro\iding themselves with dilierent 

 sha[H'd kni\es adapted t<j cutting out or selecting beets. The spacing 

 with the h<H', liowever, i.s a great advantage and makes the work of pulling 

 «'asier. It also heljjs to gel riil of weeds wiiere these exist. Hand 



