BOOT CROPS. 249 



apart, according to the size of the variety grown. This 

 thinning may be done iu part with a hoe, bat hand 

 picking is necessary to some extent. Sometimes thin- 

 ning is delayed until the roots have grown to a dia- 

 meter of a half- inch or more, when they can be pulled 

 and fed to cattle or pigs. 



Harvesting. — Beets may be left in the ground 

 until there is reason to expect the approach of frost. 

 The tops may be cut with a hoe, but it is safer to have 

 them twisted off by hand, as cutting the top of the 

 beet increases the probability of its rotting. Some va- 

 rieties grow with a large part of the root above the sur- 

 face and can easily be pulled. With others it is better 

 to loosen the roots by plowing a furrow close to them, 

 throwing the earth from the row. The roots may be 

 laid on the ground or at once carried to the place in 

 which they are to be stored. The leaves have some 

 value as food for stock. They may be fed green or 

 preserved in silos. 



Beets are easily injured by frost. They may be 

 stored in cellars or in out-door pits. Except for re- 

 gions in which the weather is very cold in winter, pits 

 are prefen'ed to cellars by many. They are best made 

 long and narrow, with divisions of earth at frequent 

 intervals, so comparatively small quantities only are 

 exposed to the air at any one time. When extreme 

 cold weather is to be expected, cellars or houses espe- 

 cially constructed for the purpose are essential. The 

 roots should be dry when stored and it is well to have 

 ventilation for the cellar, except in extremely cold 

 weathel-. 



TURNIPS. 



Turnips (Brassica), one of many varieties and sev- 



