172 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



THE GARDEN BEET. 



Though, as stated, the beet is hardy under all our conditions, 

 it needs for the proper germination of its seed moist, warm ground, 

 and it makes rapid and tender growth with the same soil conditions. 

 In cold, wet soil or in hot, dry land, it will grow slowly and will 

 be tough and of inferior flavor. Though it is true that beets will 

 endure much drought, growing slowly and rooting deeply on land 

 where grain and hay would fail and subsequently, with the coming 

 of the fall rains, assume more active growth and reach large size 

 for the winter feeding of stock, it is not in that way that tender 

 and sound-flavored table beets can be produced. They should make 

 rapid growth from start to finish, and then they may remain in 

 their places for some time without notable loss of quality, unless 

 the ground is heavy, becomes saturated and retains water. In fact, 

 some growers on well-cultivated upland loams claim that the beets 

 improve in the soil and are sweetest and tenderest just before 

 sending up their seed stalks. In localities with excessive rains, it 

 is often desirable to gather beets and pack them away in dry sand, 

 but in most places open air winter conditions do not make this neces- 

 sary. On the other hand, as the seed may be almost continuously 

 planted if moisture conditions are arranged, small planting for 

 several successions should be the rule in the family or sale garden, 

 if long use from one planting shows deterioration. 



Garden Culture. Beets may be grown in the hand-hoed gar- 

 den in rows twelve inches apart, or even nearer than that if space 

 is precious, but rows for horse work should be eighteen inches or 

 two feet, according as may be necessary to agree with the unit of 

 distance chosen to bring the rows of upright growers uniform dis- 

 tances apart for ease of cultivation. The small varieties popular in 

 this state do not need that distance perhaps, but all narrow spacing 

 is grievous in the use of horse tools. 



The soil for beets should be well worked to allow natural 

 penetration, for the beet has a taproot of great importance in its 

 development. The seed may be soaked before planting if the 

 ground is inclined to be dry, and should be covered from three- 

 quarters of an inch to two inches, according as the soil is heavy and 

 moist or light and dry. In late planting the seed must go down to 

 moisture, and there is then little danger of rain compacting the 

 covering. As for time of planting, it may be done any time when 

 the soil is moist and warm, but never when it is cold or wet. Seed 



