228 BEETS. 



Onions have been successfully cultivated in light, 

 black, swampy grounds, when laid suffiiciently dry by 

 small open ditches, about 3 rods apart. 



Mr. Knight^ of Newbury, Mass. raised last year, 651 

 bushels of onions, on one acre. The soil is a rich grav- 

 elly loam, with a gravel bottom; in 1821, it was culti- 

 vated with onions, and cabbages; and was manured with 

 about 5 cords of barn manure, and produced a good 

 crop; after the crop was oif the ground, there were 5 

 cords of barn manure, and 2 and a half cords of leached 

 ashes ploughed in ; in April, 1822, it was once ploughed, 

 and sowed ia rows 14 inches apart, which took between 

 3 and 4 pounds oi" seed ; in the course of the season it 

 was hoed between the rows and weeded four times ; in 

 September they were harvested. The entire expense, 

 including <J 21 and 37 cents, the cost of manure, was 

 $ 57 and 38 cents. 



BEETS. 



There are varieties of beets ; but the best are the red, 

 and the redder the «weeter. A full and abundant sup- 

 ply of this very excellent vegetable, ought to be culti- 

 vated in every garden. Sow them early, if the soil be 

 not very rich ; but they may be sown later, where it 

 is strong. The soil should be well mellowed to a good 

 depth. A soil naturally mellow is best for them. Make- 

 the rows a foot apart ; sow the seed pretty thick all 

 along the drill; and when the plants come up, thin them 

 to 8 inches apart, or 12, if the ground is very rich. Mr. 

 Cobbeit advises to soak the seed 4 days in rain water be- 

 fore it is sowed. It should be put in about 2 inches 

 deep, and the earth pressed upon it. The seeds gen- 

 erally come up double, but should be separated while 

 young, otherwise both roots will be small. Those which 

 are taken out may be traasplanted ; but they are not 

 apt to make good roots. Beets should be kept clear of 

 weeds, till the leaves covering the ground prevent their 

 further growth. The under leaves may be broken off 

 towards fall, and thrown to swine, which are very fond 

 of them. 



The roots should be dug up before any severe frosts; 

 none of the fibrous roots should be taken awav ; nor 



