138 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. 



tive, and of excellent quality, whether served in the 

 green state or shelled. The ripe beans are yellowish 

 white, spotted with pink. 



BEET. -(Beta vulgaris. ) 



This is one of the leading and most yaluable crops of 

 our market gardens, and, next to Cabbages, is perhaps 

 the most extensively grown as an early crop. The soil 

 best suited is that which is rather light than otherwise, 

 always provided that it is thoroughly enriched by ma- 

 nure. We make little difference in the manner of work- 

 ing or manuring the ground for any of our leading early 

 crops. The ground must, in all cases, be thoroughly 

 pulverized by plowing, subsoiliug and harrowing, and 

 when stable manure can be procured, plowed in at the 

 rate of seventy-five to one hundred tons per acre. It 

 must be borne in mind that this large quantity of manure 

 is used where two crops are taken off the land in one sea- 

 son, for Celery always follows crops of Early Beets, Cab- 

 bages, Onions, etc. If stable manure cannot be had, the 

 next best substitutes must be used in the quantities 

 specified in Chapter on Manures. As early in spring as 

 the ground becomes fit to work, the Beets are usually 

 sown in rows one foot apart, made by the " marker," 

 about three inches deep. We prefer to sow rather thickly 

 by hand (not less than eight pounds per acre), for the 

 reason that late frosts often kill off a portion of the young 

 plants ; but when sown thickly, enough is generally left 

 to make a crop which amply repays the difference of a 

 few pounds of seed. After sowing, the seed is pressed 

 in by the feet (see "Use of the Feet in Sowing and 

 Planting," page 96), and if the weather is dry, the whole 

 surface is also rolled, which firms the soil better around 

 the seed and also leaves the ground level, making it easier 



