The Cultivation of Vegetables 81 
work goes on more slowly, and therefore the roots are 
not of such a high quality. 
Being delicate, the seed should not be sown until the 
1 weather is fine, and there is little fear of injury from frost, 
! for the main crop at least, This will probably be about 
( the middle of April. As the seed of the Beet is some- 
what expensive, it is advisable to be as economical as 
possible in the sowing of it. Therefore, when the line is 
set and the drill drawn, instead of sowing the seeds all 
along the drill, three or four should be placed in little 
clumps 6 to 9 in. apart. This will not only save seed, 
: but will economize time when thinning, as only the clumps 
j will require thinning out to one plant each. The drills 
i should be 1 5 in. apart and 1^ in. deep. When the plants 
' are ij to 2 in. high they should be thinned out, a dull 
day being chosen for the purpose if possible. 
If an early batch is required, a small quantity of the 
turnip-rooted variety may be sown about the middle of 
! March, in a more or less sheltered position, but exposed 
to the sun. 
The hoe should be kept going between the rows, to 
keep down weeds and to conserve the moisture in dry 
weather. Great care must be exercised not to cut the 
roots with the hoe, or bruise them by pushing stones 
against them, as they bleed readily. It will be better to 
pull the weeds out by hand round the plants, and only 
hoe in the middle, between the rows. For the same 
reason, care must be taken not to break the leaves. 
The crop must be taken up before the frost has any 
chance of injuring it. This will be from the middle of 
October to the first week in November, according to the 
( c 525 ) 7 
