CHILDREN'S GARDENS 123 



is written history, and it may probably be the oldest 

 known vegetable. 



Thinning beets. If the beets come up quite thickly, 

 when they are about six to eight inches high, they 

 should be thinned to four inches apart, and what is 

 thinned out will be sufficient to make a very nice dish 

 of greens. So many children have never known the 

 beet leaves to be used for 

 greens, that it is well to ex- 

 plain their value, so they 

 will take them home to be 

 cooked. If enough seeds 

 were planted, the thinning 

 from the eight foot row 

 should give a good mess of Photo by the Author 



greens (thin turnips and use Thinning beets 



tops the same way). 



In some sections of the country the beet tops are 

 not used for greens, in other sections the turnip tops 

 are not used. In the Children's Garden the use of 

 both these and other vegetables can be taught and 

 the variety and quantity of food increased. Repeated 

 plantings can be made for the use of the top only, 

 for greens. They can be grown when there is not 

 time for root development. They are a valuable ad" 

 dition to the dietary. For this purpose the planting 

 should be closer. 



The carrots should also be thinned to about one 

 inch apart, and those taken out can be used as parsley 

 is, or for soup flavoring. 



