248 THE SOILS AND CKOPS OF THE FARM. 



frequently give the larger crops. Single roots weigh- 

 ing sixty pounds and crops of nearly one hundred tons 

 to the acre have been produced under favorable cir- 

 cumstances. In this country crops of twenty-live to 

 thirty tons per acre are not uncommon, without espe- 

 cially favorable circumstances. 



Culture. — All varieties of beets do • best in rich, 

 loamy or sandy soils. They do not thrive on wet or 

 very compact soils. Liberal manuring with well rotted 

 stable manure is a safe practice unless on very fertile 

 soils. Fairly deep plowing is desirable, except on 

 naturally loose soils. Getting the surface finely 

 divided and moderately compact is desirable. 



Planting should be done fairly early, before rather 

 than after corn planting. A fair degree of moisture 

 is needed to insure germination. Dry weather while 

 the plants are young greatly retards growth. 



The seeds may be put in rows from fifteen to thirty 

 inches apart. When the ease of cultivation is of more 

 consequence than the area of land used, the wider 

 planting is advisable. Five or six pounds of seed per 

 acre are required. They may be sown with a seed- 

 drill or dropped by hand — a slow and tiresome pro- 

 cess. They should be covered from one to two inches 

 deep, unless the soil is quite moist. If the soil is dry, 

 compacting I the soil about the seed by the use of a 

 roller is desirable. In some cases the seed is soaked 

 in water for twelve to twenty- four hours before plant- 



Hand hoeing is often necessary while the plants 

 are small; afterward the culture may be chiefly by 

 horse cultivators. The plants should be thinned to 

 single plants from eight to twelve or more inches 



