248 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



^^'ith careful, intelligent selection, superior types may 

 be developed and maintained. 



The seed of the beet is really not a seed, but a fruit, 

 usually containing several seeds and surrounded by a 

 corky pericarp. These characteristics of the seed should 

 be well understood by planters in order to sow properly. 

 As each so-called seed may produce several plants, care 

 must be exercised to avoid sowing too thickly. The 

 corky covering requires a liberal and constant supply of 

 moisture to insure germination. 



The soil must be well prepared. Fall plowing is often 

 an advantage for the early crop. Smoothing harrows or 

 other tools should be used until a fine and moist seed 

 bed is ready for sowing. 



The early varieties are sown as soon in the spring as 

 the ground can be prepared. From six to eight weeks 

 are required for the roots to attain a marketable size. 

 Under favorable conditions the early varieties are ready 

 for market in the North by June i. Succession plantings 

 of oval and turnip-shaped beets may be made until the 

 middle of August. Long and half-long varieties should 

 be sown in May, as about five months are required- for 

 them to reach maturity. While the long types are used 

 to a considerable extent, oval and turnip-shaped varie- 

 ties are more popular as well as more profitable for the 

 late crop, because they do not need to be sown until 

 after the ground has produced one or two cash crops of other 

 vegetables, and they are also preferred on the market. 



The distance between rows will depend mainly upon 

 whether the cultivating is to be done with a hand wheel 

 hoe or a horse cultivator. Twelve inches between the 

 rows is the standard distance for wheel hoe cultivation, 

 although many prefer about 15 inches. When horses are 

 to be used, the spacing varies from 24 to 30 inches. A 

 very successful grower allows only 18 inches between 

 rows and cultivates with a small mule. 



