214 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



ably loose so that the soil may be displaced by the ex- 

 panding beet-root. This is done not by deep summer cul- 

 tivation, but by keeping a good surface mulch to prevent 

 evaporation, and the lower soil will keep itself in good 

 condition. All flattened, or knotty, or gnarly beets show 

 that there has fieen slackness, either in proper depth, in 

 preparation of the ground, or in lack of cultivation after- 

 ward, permitting deep drying out. Beets which show 

 signs of distress will be discarded or discounted at the 

 factory. The beet must be symmetrical, smooth and fine 

 all of which are signs of thrift in a beet as they are in a 

 well-bred animal. 



Thinning. Excellence in beets is also dependent upon 

 each having adequate soil-room and plant food. It is im- 

 possible to get proper spacing by any scheme of seed drop- 

 ping. It is necessary to sow too thickly in order to get a 

 uniform stand; the spacing of the beets must be done 

 afterward. By using a narrow hoe crosswise to the rows, 

 the plants can be quickly thinned to clumps or groups, 

 from which all but the strongest plant are pulled by hand. 

 Thinning should be begun when the seedlings are small 

 say from two to four leaves. It is easier to do it well at 

 this stage, and it is vastly better for the beets which are 

 to stand, for it does not displace the soil nor disturb their 

 rooting, as when it is done too late. Beets should stand 

 eight to ten inches apart in the row, according to the 

 soil. Where the soil is very rich and the beets likely to 

 overgrow the two-pound average, which is most accept- 

 able to the factory, they should be allowed to stand nearer 

 in the row. After thinning, the surface cultivation must 

 proceed for weed cutting and surface loosening until the 

 beet leaves cover the ground. The field is then laid by 

 until harvesting. 



Harvesting. As the outer leaves of the beet turn yel- 

 low and drop to the ground, maturity arrives. It is usual 

 for the factory to notify the grower when his crop is ready. 

 The beet can stand long in the soil without losing sugar 

 percentage, but the factory cannot use all the beets at the 



