VEGETABLES BEET. 107 



see Chapter on Manures. As early in spring as the ground 

 becomes fit to work, the Beets are usually sown in rows 

 1 foot apart, made by the " marker," about 3 inches deep. 

 We prefer to sow rather thickly, not less than 8 Ibs. 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 dif- 

 ference of a few pounds of seed. After sowing, the drills 

 are covered in by the feet, by walking along the rows, af- 

 ter the bed is completed ; if the weather is dry, the whole 

 is rolled, which better firms the soil around the seed and 

 also leaves the ground level, making it easier to be hoed. 

 Beets are occasionally planted 2 feet apart, and the inter- 

 vening row sown with Radishes; the Radishes mature 

 early, and are used or sold off soon enough to admit of 

 more room for the Beet crop. It makes with us but lit- 

 tle difference in the profits of the crop which way it is 

 done, the results being nearly the same in each case; but 

 in places where limited quantities of vegetables only can 

 be disposed of, perhaps the latter plan is the best. The 

 young Beets are thinned out to 6 inches apart when the 

 rows are 1 foot apart, but when at 2 feet to only 4 inches, 

 as they have more space between the rows for air. The 

 thinnings of the Beets are used like Spinach, and when 

 carefully handled, the thinnings will always sell for more 

 than the price of the labor of thinning the crop. 



In this neighborhood, Beets sown first week in April, 

 are begun to be marketed the first week in June, and en- 

 tirely cleared off by July 1st, when the ground is prepar- 

 ed for the second crop. It will be understood that they 

 are at this early date sold in an immature state, before the 



