1 54 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



aside part of the dry surface and brings the seed into moist soil 

 without running too deep, has been found valuable. The greatest 

 care should be taken to have the rows straight. Possibly most beets 

 are grown in crooked rows, as it has long been said of corn, but 

 the whole after course of the field is improved by running the drill 

 straight. It is undesirable to have a rain just after planting, unless 

 the land is very light and dry. If crust forms it must be broken by 

 light harrowing or rolling. 



The time of planting depends upon the local climate and the 

 character and condition of the soil. With reference to local climates 

 Professor Adams says : 



The commercial time of planting in California covers a period from 

 October 1 until June 1, local conditions largely influencing the time when the 

 seed is sown. In general, as near as a rule can be given, fall planting 

 October, November and December is more common in the southern portion 

 of the state ; early spring planting last of January and February in the Sac- 

 ramento and San Joaquin valleys; and later spring planting February 1 to 

 June 1 in the coast sections, such as Monterey and Santa Barbara counties. 

 Local conditions will determine the best time to sow, but as a general recom- 

 mendation, as early planting as is possible is to be strongly recommended. 

 Although early planting carries with it attendant difficulties of soil prepara- 

 tion, weed destruction, thinning and hoeing, danger of root rot and crusting, 

 the increased tonnage of beets obtained fully warrants early planting, even 

 though it becomes necessary to replant occasionally. In the interior valleys 

 where warm weather begins at an early date, early planting is absolutely 

 essential to insure well-established growth before the heat and dryness of late 

 spring and summer descend upon the fields. 



In certain sections, especially in the Sacramento Valley and some of the 

 central coast sections, it is possible to plant beets so early that a considerable 

 percentage will throw up seed-stalks. If this seed formation progresses too 

 far, the sugar content of the crop is reduced and the beets become too woody 

 for profitable working. "Early planting," therefore, must be construed as 

 meaning the planting of the seed as early as possible, while guarding against 

 planting so early that seed production replaces satisfactory maturing. 



Cultivation. Weeds should never be allowed to get the start 

 of the young beets ; nor should the soil be allowed to lock them in 

 a hard surface. For this reason cultivation should begin as soon 

 as the rows can be seen. Very effective cultivators, or horse-hoes, 

 have been designed by California mechanics, which make it possible 

 to work two or four rows at once if the beets are in straight equi- 

 distant rows. This cultivation, beginning thus early, must be con- 

 tinued at frequent intervals, for the reasons already fully given in 

 the chapter on cultivation. Cultivation is absolutely essential to a 

 good beet; not only must moisture be conserved, but the lower 

 strata must be kept reasonably loose so that the soil may be dis- 

 placed by the expanding beet-root. This is done not by deep sum- 

 mer cultivation, but by keeping a good surface mulch to prevent 

 evaporation, and the lower soil will then keep itself in good condi- 

 tion. All flattened, or knotty, or gnarly beets show that there has 

 been slackness, either in proper depth, in preparation of the ground, 

 or in lack of cultivation afterward, permitting deep drying out. 



