THE 94 
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 14 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 
