CHAP. II.
Reading edition
This is the third year that Mr. Heaton has cultivated the improved Beet Root with great success, in three different ways; namely, broadcast on ground under garden culture; and, in the field, by dibbling in the seed, and transplanting the roots. The result fully justifies a preference in favour of dibbling in rows 2 feet apart, as will be seen by the following short statement of the produce obtained under each mode of culture.
20
PRODUCE.
Broadcast, on strong land, spade-trenched, 10 inches deep, leaving the plants after hoeing nearly 15 inches apart each way, 50 tons per acre.
Transplanted in rows 3 feet apart, and the plants about 18 inches apart in each row, 22 tons per acre.
Dibbling the seed in rows 2 feet apart, and the plants left 12 inches apart in each row, 48 tons per acre.
21A good crop may be obtained by the broadcast method upon deep, loose soils, or upon strong soils spade-trenched, 10 or 12 inches deep; but by that mode much seed is wasted, and much extra expence incurred in labour, hoeing, and transplanting, before the plants are placed 5 inches apart each way, which is very material to insure a good crop, under that mode of culture.
22