170 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1892. 



to oret the first bunch of beets which were worth one dollar 

 per dozen and the price declined slowly ; now they must be had 

 about the middle of June and the price rapidily declines to about 

 40 cts. at eJuly 1st. For this crop plough the manure in, in the 

 fall from 15 to 20 cords to the acre. As soon as the ground can 

 be worked in the spring, plough twice, sow broadcast a liberal 

 quantity of phosphate, harrow it in and smooth the field with a 

 field leveler, and sow the seed — soon as the field is ready — in 

 rows 16 or 18 inches apart and thin the beets to 6 inches 

 apart in the row. By skipping every 5th row a row of spinach 

 or early lettuce can be grown between the beds of beets, and 

 the later pickling cucumbers may be planted or celery set out. 

 It should be our aim to secure at least two crops from all the 

 fields. It is easier to keep the ground free from weeds if there 

 is a good crop growing on, than if there is nothing, the weeds 

 are sure to start and if there is no crop to hoe the weeds are 

 allowed to grow and ripen seed to cause future trouble and 

 expense. Tomatoes may follow early spinach by sowing it in 

 beds and setting the tomatoes between ; string beans can be 

 grown with sweet corn. 



Early planting is one of the surest means to gain success ; all 

 the hardy vegetables, such as onions, spinach, peas, beets, 

 potatoes, etc. should be put in the ground as soon as the ground 

 will work fine and light. Seed sown thus early should be covered 

 slightly, the ground has not become warm and we must depend 

 on the heat from the sun to start the seed, if the ground is stirred 

 often before the crop is up it will cause the ground to warm up 

 faster and materially help the crop. 



Of all the vegetables we grow none have grown in public 

 favor and demand faster than Celery, and none are receiving 

 more attention and care in cultivation. The seed for the 

 early crop should be sown under glass in April and trans- 

 planted once, the seed is very slow to germinate and requires 

 a great deal of water ; if the weather should be very bright 

 and warm the glass will need to be covered with a mat during 

 the heat of the day to prevent the soil becoming hard and 

 crusty. The soil in the field should be very highly manured and 

 made fine by thorough working and the plants well watered 



