110 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



on. Beet seed may be sown by a machine seed sower, but 

 most of the sowers in use will need a little more careful watch- 

 ing- when sowing this than with other seeds, as the rough seeds 

 (fruits) are liable to clog the feed hole. There are a few beet 

 seed sowing machines adapted for horse power that it will prob- 

 ably pay one to use where a large amount of land is to be 

 cultivated in beets. About six pounds of seed are required 

 per acre, and it is always a good plan to sow an abundance 

 •of seed, as it does not start very uniformly. 



Forcing Beets. — Beets are easily forced by sowing the early 

 maturing kinds in February or March in hotbeds, where they 

 may be left to mature or may be transplanted when of proper 

 size. It is, however, best to allow them to grow to table 

 size without transplanting, as this always puts the plants 

 back, and they recover from it slowly. 



Harvesting and Keeping Beets. — On the approach of severe 

 weather — in this section about the middle of October — beets 

 should be pulled and the tops cut or twisted off. but the top 

 of the root should not be cut off. Light frosts do not hurt 

 them much, especially when they are protected with a heavy 

 growth of foliage, but when the surface of the ground freezes 

 hard there is danger of permanent injury to the roots. Beets 

 are easily kept in a cold cellar. It is generally best to pit 

 them outdoors when dug, to remain there until severe weather 

 .sets in. If the air of the cellar is very dry, the beets should 

 be covered with earth after being put in bins, or they will wilt 

 and become corky. Beet seed is grown by planting out the 

 roots about the middle of May, two feet apart in rows three 

 feet apart. The seed ripens in the summer and is generally 

 threshed off as soon as ripe. 



Varieties. — There are many cultivated varieties of beets, 

 which vary considerably in size, form, color, time of maturing 

 and other characteristics. Among the most valuable are the 

 iollowing: 



Eclipse. — A very early, dark red, turnip-shaped beet of 

 good quality. Valuable for early or late sowing. A favorite 

 with market gardeners. 



Egyptian, — Valuable for early sowing. 



Bastian's Early Turnip Beet.— A valuable early sort, 



