CULTIVATION OF THE BEET ROOT. 319 



ARTICLE IV. 



On the Manner of Sowing Beet Seed. 



Beet seed may be sown in either of the three following 

 methods. 1. in a seed plot: 2. in drills: 3. broad-cast. 

 The first of these ways offers to the agriculturist the ad- 

 vantage of requiring much the least time at a season of the 

 year when every moment is precious : the young plants 

 may be transplanted in June before the commencement of 

 the hay harvest, so that the cultivation of beets need not in 

 any way impede the ordinary labors of the fields. There 

 are however, some serious inconveniences attendant upon 

 this mode of sowing : the first of these is the care that is 

 requisite in pulling up the young plants so as not to leave 

 behind a portion of the root ; for if a tap-root be broken 

 off, it ceases to increase in length, but grows in circum- 

 ference, and throws out radicles from its surface in every 

 direction. The second difficulty is, that if, in placing the 

 root in the earth, its long and very slender point be bent 

 upward, its growth in length is frustrated in the same 

 manner as if it were broken off. It is however advisable for 

 the farmer to sow a portion of his beet seed in a seed plot, 

 in order that he may be able to fill the vacancies which 

 will always be found in fields sown by the other methods. 



But seed may bie sown broad-cast in the same man- 

 ner as grain, and in this case sowing may be com- 

 menced as soon as the ground has been well prepared by 

 ploughing and rolling. -The seed is covered by having a 

 harrow passed over the ground in two directions, crossing 

 each other. This method requires at least from eleven 

 pounds and a half, to thirteen pounds and a half of seed 

 per hectare. 



This last process is the one most generally made use of, 

 and the one which I myself employed during seven or eight 

 years ; but I now give the preference to the method of 

 sowing in drills, as being more sure and more economical. 

 For this purpose, as soon as the ground is prepared, I trace 

 upon the surface, by means of a harrow ^rmed with four 

 teeth, distant about eighteen inches from each other, fur- 

 rows of an inch in depth ; the seed is dropped into these 

 furrows at intervals of sixteen inches, by women or girls 

 who follow the harrow, and who cover the earth over the 



