GARDEN YARD ^^ 



BEETS. 



Beets, like radishes, are a hardy crop requiring 

 a loose, rich soil and continuous growth to reach 

 their best and quickest development. They 

 are easy to raise and respond readily to good 

 tillage. The early or garden beet is usually a 

 succession or companion crop, because it may be 

 planted early and matures quickly. Although 

 most kinds require two or three months for 

 maturing, yet with some of the early varieties 

 roots large enough for bunching may be had in 

 six weeks to two months. The quickest sorts 

 are the round or nearly round varieties, which 

 may almost be called surface feeders. For this 

 reason they require soil in excellent tilth and 

 the richest, well-rotted barnyard manure. In- 

 deed, the wise gardener will plow his land in 

 the fall, and plow it deeply, too; then as soon 

 as it can be worked in the spring run the culti- 

 vator and harrow over it, and plant the seed 

 about I3 inches deep in rows from 12 to 18 

 inches apart. The land must be kept well tilled 

 and free from weeds, especially during the early 

 part of the season. The long field-crop beet 

 is now very little grown, as the early varieties 

 may be sown late in the season for fall and winter 

 use, and the Southern grown beets cost less in 

 the late winter than it does to grow and store 



