Thinning and Transplanting 147 



more profitable crop than a great many poor ones. 

 Thinning should be done as soon as the plants 

 are large enough to pull and before they begin 

 to grow spindly from being overcrowded. 



The aim in thinning is to remove the centers of 

 the thick bunches, leaving the spaces as uniform as 

 possible. As a rule, the best plants should be 

 allowed to remain but proper spacing must not 

 be sacrificed in order to save the best plants. 

 Poorer ones will grow if given the proper care. 



It is absolutely necessary for many plants to 

 be thinned. Such vegetables as carrots, beets, 

 salsify, turnips, radishes, and onions cannot grow 

 and develop if they are crowded. Plants like 

 beans, peas, lettuce, and several others will grow but 

 the yield will be materially reduced. 



The distance given plants depends upon the 

 plant. Small root crops like radishes should 

 stand about two inches apart. Beets, carrots, and 

 other plants with large roots, and roots which 

 are the food part of the plant, should have from 

 four to six inches space on each side. Other plants 

 depend upon the variety, such as peas and beans. 



Study the plants you are to start in order to 



