SO THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



light, sandy earth, in an open situation. After the 

 ground has been dug, manured, and well broken, 

 the seed may be sown either broad-cast, and raked 

 well into the ground, or, as the author considers far 

 preferable, in shallow drills, at the distance of a 

 foot apart : sow the seeds thinly, and rake the earth 

 over them smoothly, about an inch deep. The 

 plants come up in a month ; and when they 

 are advanced into leaves an inch or two broad, 

 they require to be thinned and cleared from 

 weeds, which may be performed either by hand- 

 weeding or with a small hoe : the plants, when pro- 

 perly thinned, remain at the distance of ten or 

 twelve inches each way. The turnip-rooted sort is 

 rather less. The red beet-roots will acquire their 

 full growth by September or October, and can then 

 be taken up for use when wanted. Towards the 

 end of November all the remaining roots should be 

 taken up on a dry day, and divested of any soil 

 hanging to them ; the leaves must then be cut off 

 within an inch of the crown, and care must be 

 taken that the roots are not in any way cut or 

 broken, as they bleed much. After the roots are 

 well dried, they may be laid in a box or bed of dry 

 sand or earth, and placed in a cellar or shed, where 

 they will remian good throughout the winter and 

 the early part of spring. 



The chard beet is raised in the same manner as 

 the other sorts ; but the seed should be sown in 

 drills, eighteen inches apart, and afterwards thinned 

 to the distance of twelve inches, to allow of the ex- 

 pansion of its large succulent leaves. They are com^ 

 monly in perfection in June and July. In gather- 



