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unsuited to the beet— any good wheat lands, light, rich and 

 loamy ; or in other words, any place that would make a 

 good garden spot would suit the beet. 



Preparation and Manure. — Plough or spade at least 15 

 inches deep, and pulverize thoroughly, putting on broad- 

 cast any commercial fertilizer known to be good for vege- 

 tables, at the rate of 400 pounds per acre, or ashes at the 

 rate of 25 bushels per acre. Be sure not to use stable or barn- 

 yard manure. The object of deep cultivation is to cause the 

 beet-root to grow entirely below the surface, the part above 

 being injurious to sugar making, and if the root should 

 grow above the surface it must be kept covered with earth. 



Seed-planting. — Soak in water 24 hours, and as soon as you 

 see signs of sprouting roll them in wood ashes or plaster, 

 and plant not more than one inch deep, and thick enough 

 in the drill to leave the plants from 8 to 12 inches apart af- 

 ter thinning. Have the rows from 18 to 22 inches apart 

 Remember that large beets are poor in sugar, and it is the 

 percentage of sugar ice wish to determine. 



Cultivation. — Should be deep and thorough, and should 

 begin as early as practicable, keeping the ground loose and 

 clear of weeds — thinning out or transplanting as may be 

 required to secure a proper stand. 



Maturity of Beet. — This will be ordinarilly about five 

 months after planting. The proper time for gathering may 

 be ascertained by the leaves turning yellow or looking 

 flabby — or perhaps better still by cutting a root in slices 

 with an iron knife, and if the surface cut does not change 

 its color, or if any, but little, it is time to take them up. If, 

 however, the surface should turn first red, then brown, and 

 finally quite dark it is too soon. In harvesting, particular 

 care should be taken not to cut or bruise them, and they 

 would do better, if the weather be favorable, to lay them in 

 piles on the ground, and cover with the tops to protect them 

 from the sun, for three or four days. 



