BEET BEGONIA 37 



shapen unless the physical condition of the soil is such that 

 the roots meet with little obstruction. A succession of sow- 

 ings should be made, at intervals of from two to three weeks, 

 until late summer, as the Beets are much more desirable 

 in their young stage than when they have become old and 

 woody. The Mangel-Wurzel and the Sugar Beet are usually 

 grown as a field crop, and will not enter into the calculations 

 of the home garden. 



In order to hasten the season of the extra- early crop of 

 Beets, the seeds may be sown in boxes or in the soil of a 

 hotbed in February or March, transplanting the small plants 

 to the open ground at the time the first sowing of seed is 

 made. As the flat or turnip -rooted varieties grow at the 

 surface of the ground, the seed may be sown thickly, and as 

 the more advanced roots are large enough to use they may 

 be pulled, leaving room for the later ones to develop, thus 

 growing a quantity in a small area and having a long season 

 of small Beets from one sowing. For winter use 

 the late July sown seed will give the best roots, 

 growing through the cool month 8 of the fall t<5 a 

 medium size and remaining firm without being 

 tough or stringy. These may be dug up after 

 light frosts and before any severe cold weather, 

 and stored in barrels or boxes in the cellar, using 

 enough dry dirt to fill spaces between the roots 

 and cover them to the depth of 6 inches. These 

 roots, thus packed in a cool cellar, will be fit to 

 use through the entire winter months. When it 

 can be had, florists' or sphagnum moss is an ex- Early 

 cellent medium in which to pack roots for winter. 



The early round or turnip varieties are best for early and 

 summer use. The Long Blood Beets may be used for stor- 

 ing, but these require a longer season of growth. 



Begonias. Tender bedding and house plants. 

 Next to the geranium, Begonias are probably the most pop- 

 ular for house culture of the entire plant list. The ease of 



