Q= ROOT 



"^ CROPS 



them. Even in feeding cattle, the beet has been 

 largely superseded by the mangel, so that few 

 are grown except the short round sorts for table 

 use. The sugar beet is a field crop. 



The seeds (which are really fruits, containing 

 within a hard shell four or five seeds each) re- 

 quire a great deal of moisture to germinate. 

 Some gardeners advocate throwing them into 

 hot water and allowing them to soak for six 

 or eight hours before planting. This makes 

 them sprout more quickly. Beets come up in 

 clumps and must be carefully thinned, until they 

 stand 6 to 8 inches apart, although this is not 

 done until the tops are sufiiciently grown to 

 sell for "greens." In this way there is no 

 waste, since top and root alike are used as a 

 pot-herb. The contrast of the green leaves 

 with clean roots attracts customers. 



If you plant beets early in the season, say 

 as soon as the ground can be worked, they may 

 be followed by celery, late potatoes, cabbage 

 or cauliflower; or they may be grown at the same 

 time between the rows of some main season 

 crop like cabbage. If planted in hot-beds or 

 cold-frames it will not pay to transplant them, 

 as they mature very early under such condi- 

 tions, and may be bunched and sold without 

 that labor. In July or August, and in some 



