84 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



use all the time. As the hot weather approaches, 

 discontinue the seeding until fall, because beets 

 need cool moist weather for perfect growth. The 

 winter supply of roots to be stored may be ob- 

 tained from late summer and early fall sowing. 

 If germination is hastened by soaking the fruits, 

 soon the little clumps of seedlings will be appear- 

 ing along the rows. In a short time, these clumps 

 will be crowded enough to need thinning; and 

 then the freshest beet greens will be ready. In 

 six weeks, the little butter-beets will be on hand. 

 Two months, usually, will develop the roots at 

 their best. 



As soon as the little clumps of beets appear, we 

 will begin to feed them a sprinkle of nitrogen 

 along the row. Feed the plants and cultivate at 

 the same time. The weeds will thus never get a 

 chance, unless now and then one appears in the 

 row among the beets. Such stray weeds must be 

 pulled. Cultivation must be close to the root, 

 tilling deeper as the root grows. The plants de- 

 pend on the stirring of the soil to secure fresh food 

 and air and to provide much of the moisture so 

 necessary to beets. So keep at it, doing the gar- 

 dener's part; and watch the beets grow. Do not 

 allow the ground to dry out. Dry-farming is hard 

 on beets. If the weather is dry, the beets, always 

 so thirsty, may need a thorough soaking. The cool 

 water from the hose cannot injure beets, if turned 

 on in the morning. Soak the roots clear down 



