CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
249 
The distance between plants in the row should be 
governed by the variety and the size of beets desired for 
market. In planting small-topped varieties, to be sold 
when the roots are to 2 inches in diameter, 2 or 3 
inches apart in the row will be sufficient space. The 
larger-rooted varieties which are permitted to grow to 
maturity should be spaced 5 or 6 inches apart. 
Some growers prefer to sow thickly, especially in the 
early spring. This may be done for several purposes, 
viz., (1) to insure a good stand of plants, (2) to make 
certain of enough plants, even if the first to germinate 
should be killed by frost, (3) to provide a surplus for 
transplanting, (4) to provide a surplus for greens. 
Thinning is very generally practiced in beet culture. 
The best plan is to attend to this work before the plants 
are injured by crowding. Many growers, however, pre- 
fer to wait until the plants are 6 to 8 inches high, when 
the ones removed are used for greens. 
Ten seeds to the foot of furrow, or 1 ounce to 75 or 100 
feet of drill (5 to 7 pounds an acre), should insure a 
perfect stand. One inch of covering is sufficient in moist 
soils. The seeds may be sown with a drill, although 
their angular form is not conducive to uniform distribu- 
tion. Drills with effective agitators are best adapted 
to this seed. It is important that the soil be firmed well 
by the wheel of the drill or by other means. This is 
especially necessary when there is lack of soil moisture. 
Beet seeds do not germinate as promptly as many other 
garden seeds, and a few radish seeds are sometimes 
sown with them to mark the rows so cultivation may 
begin early. 
Beets do not transplant as readily as many other vege- 
tables, but it is common to reset the thinned plants and 
to sow under glass, and then set the plants in the open 
when conditions are favorable. If advantage is taken of 
a moist soil and of cool, cloudy weather, the operation 
