40 JOHNSON & STOKES 
Excellence in the table beet depends partly on variety, 
but mainly on the quickness of growth. Sweetness and 
succulence result from high culture in rich, mellow soil. 
Mangels and sugar beets, of course, have a place on every 
farm, for stock-feeding purposes, and table beets may also 
be grown, if good soil is available, for market purposes. The 
winter-keeping sorts are frequently in demand, and may be 
included among the farmer's cash crops. 
No amount of stable manure is excessive in beet-growing. 
Partially rotted manure is best. For horse culture the rows 
should be 3 feet apart. Five to six pounds of seed will plant 
an acre. 
Planting. — Planting may be done as soon as the ground 
can be worked in the spring, as the beet is hardy, and not 
injured by a little frost; and successional plantings may be 
made until June. The June sowing will produce autumn 
beets, which can be stored for winter use or sale. 
It is well to soak the seed in tepid water before planting; 
it should be scattered thinly in the rows and lightly covered. 
In dry weather the soil must be pressed firmly on the seed, 
to insure sufficient moisture for germination. The plants in 
the rows should be thinned out to 3 or 4 inches. 
It is very important to remember that the more space 
each plant has about it the sooner will it reach a marketable 
size. Beet plants standing 5 inches apart in the row will be 
ready long before plants standing only 2 inches apart. 
Beets vary in shape very considerably. Some are round 
and some are long, with intermediate grades. The turnip- 
shaped beets are the earliest, while the half-longs and longs 
Beets. — For earliest, we especially recommend Crosby's Improved 
Egyptian and Surprise; for winter, Ford's Perfected Half- Long. Please 
see "Johnson & Stokes' Garden and Farm Manual." 
