ROOT 
a8 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largely superseded by the mangel, so that few 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 sufficiently 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 
