Cultivation and Harvesting of Beets 55 



naturally. This softens the hull and hastens germina- 

 tion, but weakens, to a small degree, the vitality of the 

 seed. For a fall crop, sow the seed in June. Instead of 

 sowing on a bed as for the spring crop, prepare the land 

 level and mark the rows with the garden -marker two 

 feet apart. Open a furrow two inches deep, and sow the 

 seed carefully in the bottom of this and run the wheel 

 of a wheelbarrow on them. This firms the soil on 

 the seed to bring them into closer contact with the 

 soil and promotes the ascent of capillary moisture. A 

 small quantity of fine soil falls in behind the wheel, 

 just enough to form a mulch over the seed. Planted in 

 this way, the roots of the j^oung plants at once enter 

 moist soil and are exempt from the usual injurious 

 effects of drought. 



If the land is manured for beets with thoroughly 

 rotted compost, it should be deeply incorporated with 

 the soil broadcast. If commercial fertilizers are used 

 and applied in the drill, they should be deposited in the 

 bottom of a furrow six inches deep, to insure a solid root 

 growth downward and to prevent the growth of laterals. 

 Fresh stable manure should not be applied to the beet 

 crop, as its presence encourages the development of the 

 disease known as scab. If this disease is trouble- 

 some, plant on land where beets have not been grown 

 for several years. If the beets are desired for use 

 in winter, in June plant the long blood-red ; and, 

 when severe killing frosts occur, lift, cut the tops 

 lelow the hud and store either in barrels with sand 

 between them or bank in the field, covering each layer 

 with fine soil as free from organic matter as practicable. 



