186 



yEGETABLE GROWING PROJECTS 



3. How much seed will you need for the various kinds of root 



crops ? 



4. How many years do the different root crop seeds retain their miality f 



5. Under what conditions should they he stored? 



Fig. 46. — Early Model beets. 



6. Preparing the soil. — In W : 182 attention is called to the 

 importance of the soil being well filled with organic matter, for 

 soils deficient in humus never produce satisfactory root crops. 

 The organic matter, too, must be well decayed. Fresh stable 

 manures should never be employed in any considerable amount, 

 for they encourage foliage development rather than root growth, 

 while rotten manures have the opposite effect. The heaviest 

 apphcations of composted or well-decayed manure may be made, 

 thus increasing the size of the roots as well as their quality. If 

 any coarse manure is to be used it should be plowed down, but 



