250 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
will be satisfactory. When the work is properly man- 
aged there is a gain of possibly two weeks in time of 
maturity over sowings made in the open. The seed 
may be sown four or five weeks before the time of plant- 
ing in the field. 
323. Fertilizing. — Beets must grow rapidly to mature 
early and to develop the highest quality. To accomplish 
these purposes there must be an ample supply of soluble 
plant food, especially of nitrogen 
Fresh or green stable manures should never be apolied 
a short time before planting, because they encourage a 
rank growth of top at the sacrifice of root ; but rotten 
cow and horse manure may be used freely. Henderson 
recommends 75 to 100 tons an acre, while more recent 
intensive growers use 40 to 50 tons an acre. Some 
succeed with half this quantity, supplementing with com- 
mercial fertilizers. From 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of a high- 
grade fertilizer can generally be applied at a profit, with 
an additional top dressing of nitrate of soda. The New 
Jersey Station found that as much as 800 pounds of ni- 
trate an acre could be profitably used during the season. 
At each application 100 to 200 pounds may be used by 
distributing along the rows or sowing broadcast when 
the leaves are dry. The first and largest application 
should be made in about three weeks from sowing, mak- 
ing additional dressings as may seem necessary. 
324. Cultivation. — Thorough tillage is essential to 
large yields and high quality. The beet is a surface 
feeder, so that shallow cultivation should be practiced. 
The Garrahan hand weeder is a valuable tool for weed- 
ing and thinning beets when the discarded plants are not 
to be reset. 
325. Marketing. — Early beets are usually sold on local 
markets before they have attained full size, because the 
market accepts a small tender beet, and the grower de- 
sires to clear the land as soon as possible for some other 
