The Culture of Vegetables 



pickle, and as an agent in colouring it has its value, because of the 

 perfect wholesomeness of the rich crimson hue it is capable of im- 

 parting to any article of food requiring it. 



The cultivation of Beet is of the most simple nature, but a certain 

 amount of care is requisite for the production of a handsome and 

 profitable crop. Beet will make a fair return on any soil that is 

 properly prepared for it ; but to grow this root to perfection a rich 

 light loam is necessary, free from any trace of recent or strong 

 manure. A rank soil, or one to which manure has been added 

 shortly before sowing the seed, will produce ugly roots, some coarse 

 with overgrowth, others forked and therefore of little value, and 

 others, perhaps, cankered and worthless. The soil should be well 

 prepared by deep digging some time before making up the seed-bed, 

 and it is sound practice to grow Beet on plots that have been 

 heavily manured in the previous year for Cauliflower, Celery, or any 

 other crop requiring good cultivation. If the soil from an old Melon 

 or Cucumber bed can be spared, it may be spread over the land and 

 dug in, and the piece should be broken up in good time to become 

 mellow before the seed is sown. Seaweed is a capital manure for 

 Beet, especially if laid at the bottom of the trench when preparing 

 the ground. A moderate dressing of salt may be added with advan- 

 tage, as the Beet is a seaside plant. 



The most important crop is that required for salading, for which 

 a deep-coloured Beet of rich flavour is to be preferred, and the aim 

 of the cultivator should be to obtain roots of moderate size and of 

 perfect shape and finish. The ground having been trenched two 

 spades deep early in the year, may be made up into four-and-a-half- 

 feet beds some time in March, preparatory to sowing the seed. 

 Early sowing is needful for an early crop, but this will be liable to 

 destruction by a late spring frost ; the main sowing should never be 

 made until quite the end of April or beginning of May. In the 

 event of a hot dry summer, much of the early- sown Beet will run up 

 to flower and be useless. For a neat crop, sow in drills one and a 

 half or two inches deep, and thin out to nine inches apart. Hand 

 weeding will have to follow soon after sowing, and perhaps the hoe 

 may be required to supplement the hand. The thinning should be 

 commenced as early as possible, but it is waste of time to plant the 

 thinnings, and it is equally waste of time to water the crop. In fact, 

 if the ground is well prepared, weeding and thinning comprise the 

 whole remainder of the cultivation. 



Some of the smaller and more delicate Beets, of. a very dark 



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