Runner Beans. Beet. 161 



The pods should be gathered as soon as they are a fair size, 

 and gathering should afterwards be continued regularly two or 

 three times a week. If the pods are allowed to become too old 

 not only are they worthless but the plants soon cease to bear. 

 Any old pods that have been missed in a previous gathering 

 should be thrown away or they will spoil the sample. If the 

 pods should be gritty with earth they must be washed ; they 

 should be despatched to their destination as soon as possible 

 after gathering, whilst they are still fresh and plump, as they 

 soon lose in value if kept standing about. 



Manures : For a good crop of Scarlet Runners it is neces- 

 sary that the ground should be deeply worked and well supplied 

 with farmyard manure. If this has been given to the previous 

 crop 5 cwt. ground lime, 3 cwt. superphosphate, and 1 cwt. 

 sulphate of potash to the acre, harrowed in some time previous 

 to sowing the seed, will give satisfactory results. If no manure 

 was given to the previous crop, or if the land is poor, plough 

 or dig in well-decayed manure at the rate of 15 tons to the 

 acre, and in addition give the fertilizers mentioned above. 



Varieties : There are many good sorts, amongst the best of 

 which are : Best of All, Scarlet Emperor, Ne Plus Ultra, The 

 Czar, Painted Lady, and the common Scarlet Runner. 



BEET 



Beta vulgaris. 



BEET is a profitable crop to grow, but as the demand for it 

 is only moderate the space given to it should not be too 

 large. It may be grown on any ordinary soil, though one of a 

 rather light and sandy nature produces the neatest and best- 

 shaped roots. Good Beet can be grown on strong clay soil if 

 it is carefully prepared by deep working and ridging in the 

 winter so as to get it thoroughly pulverized. On clay the seed 

 should be sown a fortnight later than the usual time or the 

 roots are apt to grow too large and coarse, especially if the 

 season should happen to be wet. The only kind of roots likely 

 to realise a profit are those of moderate size and good shape, 

 and to produce these, no matter of what nature the soil may 



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