158 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



The beet being a native of tlie sea-sliore abounds in soda, 

 which can be supplied when deficient by an application of 

 common salt the autumn before planting. This and leached 

 or unleached ashes will afford nearly all the inorganic ele- 

 ments of the crop. 



Beets can be planted in this climate, at any time from 

 J anuary to March, and as late as April, with a little care 

 in shading and watering. 



When the surface soil is rich and the bottom poor, it 

 will be difficult to make the beet, carrot, and other tap- 

 rooted plants produce fine, smooth roots. This difficulty 

 will cease if the ground be deeply and thoroughly worked, 

 mingling the soil and making it uniform throughout, and 

 taking care to place at the depth of one foot below the 

 surface a layer of good manure. 



The best beets grow in sandy bottom lands, but any soil 

 will answer for them if deeply and thoroughly worked 

 and well manured. This is necessary with all tap-rooted 

 plants, and especially with the beet. Beet seed is some- 

 what slow in vegetating, and the later sowings may be 

 soaked in water twenty-four hours before planting ; make 

 the beds four or four and a-half feet wide for convenience 

 of culttivaing; spade them up at least a foot deep, 

 eighteen inches is still better ; mix in a good supply of 

 well-rotted manure throughout, if the ground requires it. 

 Rake the ground even and smooth, and mark out the 

 rows twelve inches apart across the bed ; draw the drills 

 an inch and a-half or two inches deep, in which drop the 

 seed two inches apart, and press the earth gently upon it. 

 "When the plants are up, thin them to six or eight inches 

 apart, and keep the ground around them loose and free 

 from weeds. 



In planting crops of beets, carrots, and parsnips, par- 

 ticularly the two latter, it is well to sprinkle afm radish 



