CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 249 



The distance between plants in the row should be 

 governed by the variety and the size of beets desired for 

 market. In planting small-topped varieties, to be sold 

 when the roots are 1^/2 to 2 inches in diameter, 2 or 3 

 inches apart in the row will be sufficient space. The 

 larger-rooted varieties which are permitted to grow to 

 maturity should be spaced 5 or 6 inches apart. 



Some growers prefer to sow thickly, especially in the 

 early spring. This may be done for several purposes, 

 viz., (i) to insure a good stand of plants, (2) to make 

 certain of enough plants, even if the first to germinate 

 should be killed by frost, (3) to provide a surplus for 

 transplanting, (4) to provide a surplus for greens. 



Thinning is very generally practiced in beet culture. 

 The best plan is to attend to this work before the plants 

 are injured by crowding. Many growers, however, pre- 

 fer to wait until the plants are 6 to 8 inches high, when 

 the ones removed are used for greens. 



Ten seeds to the foot of furrow, or I ounce to 75 or 100 

 feet of drill (5 to 7 pounds an acre), should insure a 

 perfect stand. One inch of covering is sufficient in moist 

 soils. The seeds may be sown with a drill, although 

 their angular form is not conducive to uniform distribu- 

 tion. Drills with effective agitators are best adapted 

 to this seed. It is important that the soil be firmed well 

 by the wheel of the drill or by other means. This is 

 especially necessary when there is lack of soil moisture. 

 Beet seeds do not germinate as promptly as many other 

 garden seeds, and a few radish seeds are sometimes 

 sown with them to mark the rows so cultivation may 

 begin early. 



Beets do not transplant as readily as many other vege- 

 tables, but it is common to reset the thinned plants and 

 to sow under glass, and then set the plants in the open 

 when conditions are favorable. If advantage is taken of 

 a moist soil and of cool, cloudy weather, the operation 



