22 THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



the seeds in rows one foot apart and two inches deep. The seed is 

 sometimes dibbled in, but a better plant is obtained by drilling. The 

 greatest care should be taken to keep the crop clean, and to thin to 

 single plants in good time. 



A Beet crop may be left in the ground during the winter if aided 

 by a covering of litter during severe frost. But it is safer out of the 

 ground than in it, and the proper time to lift is when a touch of 

 autumn frost has been experienced. Dry earth or sand, in sufficient 

 quantity, should be ready for the storing, and a clamp in a sheltered 

 corner will answer if shed room is scarce. In any case, a dry and 

 cool spot is required, for damp will cause mildew, and warmth will 

 cause growth. In cutting off the tops before storing, take care not 

 to cut too near the crown, or injurious bleeding will follow. On the 

 other hand, the long fang-like roots may be shortened without harm, 

 for the slight bleeding that will occur at that end will not affect more 

 than the half-inch or so next to the cut part. A little experience will 

 teach anyone that Beets must be handled with care, or the goodness 

 will run out of them. Many cooks bake Beet because boiling so 

 often spoils them ; but if they are in no way cut or bruised, and are 

 plunged into boiling water and kept boiling for a sufficient length of 

 time half an hour to two hours, according to size there will be 

 but trifling difference between boiling and baking. 



On stony shallow soils, where it is difficult to grow handsome 

 long Beets, the round variety may be tried with the prospect of a 

 satisfactory result. We have in hot seasons found this useful on a 

 damp clay where fine Beets were rarely obtainable. In rainy seasons, 

 on the other hand, our round Beets have been large and coarse and 

 earthy in flavour, and, as a crop, chiefly useful to replenish the pig 

 trough. From this same unkind clay we have obtained perfect crops 

 of long Beets, by making deep holes with a dibber a foot apart and 

 filling these with sandy stuff from the compost yard and sowing 

 the seed over them. It is a tedious process, but it benefits the land 

 for the next crop, and the Beets pay for it in the first instance. 



The Silver Beet is grown for the midrib of the leaf, which is 

 considered by some to be equal to Asparagus. To do justice to 

 this Beet a rank soil and plenty of liquid manure are needed to 

 promote a quick robust growth. The plant is occasionally earthed 

 up, but this is needless, for a good quality may be obtained without 

 it. The leaves should be pulled from the plant, not cut. As these 

 stalks often turn black in cooking, it is advisable to add a few drops 

 of lemon -juice to the water they are boiled in, and, of course, soda 



