Cultivation of Beet. « 



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seed may be forwarded a few days by steeping, especially if rain 

 follows the planting ; but if seed which, has partially vegetated be 

 sown in dry soil, or dry weather follows the sowing, the chances 

 are that the vegetation, which has been artificially commenced in 

 the seed, will be destroyed altogether. Another great objection 

 to the use of steeped seed is, that it cannot be delivered from the 

 drill with any regularity unless it is first dried, which will impair 

 the germination which has commenced. 



The following is but a garden experiment, and therefore very 

 little dependence is to be placed upon it, though it was made with 

 a view of testing the practice of steeping on the vegetation of 

 seed: — 



Red mangold seed planted April 22, 1845, each quantity at an inch 



deep. 



April 30th. 



30 seeds, steeped in Campbell's steep for 64 hours 3 plants up. 

 30 seeds, for 14 hours in a solution of nitrate of soda 5 do. 

 30 seeds, for 14 hours in water . . . 6 do. forwardest. 



30 dry seeds .... . 10 do up. 



In favourable weather mangold seed will make its appearance 

 above ground in 8 or 10 days. A small quantity of swede seed is 

 sometimes drilled along with, or directly after the mangold seed : 

 this is done to fill up any blanks that may occur. But the swedes 

 generally take the lead ; and, by their growing more rapidly, pre- 

 vent the young plants of beet being seen by the man who hoes 

 the crop. This may be partially obviated when the seed is dibbled, 

 by dibbling the mangold at intervals of about 14 inches, and the 

 swedes between the mangold seed. 



Farmers who imagine that the removal of the whole crop of 

 beet is injurious to the land leave one-fourth of the ridges to be 

 planted with turnips, to be fed off with the leaves of the beet after 

 the roots have been carted off. This may be practised with 

 advantage on light soil suitable for folding sheep ; though on stiff 

 land that is injured by folding, we would recommend the land to 

 be planted only with mangold seed, as that will be the most likely 

 means of securing a crop ; and should blanks occur, the best plan 

 of filling these up will be after the first hoeing, with transplanted 

 swedes, cabbages, or with beet, though the latter, when trans- 

 planted, run much to top, and seldom grow to a large size. 

 Swedes transplanted in wet weather never fail of growing to a 

 good size. As soon as the mangold are well up, the horse-hoe, 

 skim, or common plough with a broad share drawn by one horse, 

 is used between the rows. Three acres can be done in a day, at 

 a cost of about \s. 6c/. per acre. 



After this the plants are set out with the hoe, the distance 

 varying from 14 to 18 inches, according to the richness of the 



