43 



of the time. As I have above stated, as soon as the 

 land is sufficiently warmed and the later spring- 

 frosts are no longer to be dreaded, the sowing must 

 without further delay be commenced. 



Beets are sown in clusters, or in ridges or fur- 

 rows, by the hand or machine. Let us first notice 

 hand sowing which can only be used in farm- 

 ing on a small scale. 



There are two methods of proceeding : In the 

 first, we commence by laying out the field by tracing 

 either with a pallet or tarnbour, drills that cross one 

 another. The points of intersection mark the places 

 in which the seed is placed. 



It is to be noticed that the most suitable depth 

 is about one inch. The distance between the drills 

 should be from 12 to 18 inches. Several seeds are 

 placed in each place so as to ensure success. 



In the second process, two parallel cords ar 

 stretched from the extremities of the field witk 

 knots to indicate the divergence of the lines. Between 

 these two cords are placed other threads at right 

 angles, also with knots showing the places in which 

 the seeds are to be sown. The farmer makes a hole 

 in these places in which he deposits several seeds, 4 

 or five, and covers them over with a little earth } 

 lightly pressed down. 



This process is called cluster sowing. The seeds 

 thus sown together spring quicker on account of 

 the heat generated in germinating. The young shoots 

 are better able to resist the night chills, and give a 



