The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-24
Garden Notes.

Garden Notes.
There are not many vegetables that en-
ioy greater popularity than the beet. 1t
is esteemed by all classes. and there are
few gardens, large or small from which
It is excluded. When gathered while ten
der, and before it is too large, boiled
thoroughly done and served properly, it
constitutes very agreeable dish. Sliced
and allowed to stand an hour or two in
vinegar with the addition of salt and pep
per it makes a very nice hasty pickle.
Many prefer it simply served with butter
salt and pepper. 1t is a vegetable of easy
culture, and so far as our observation
goes. as little subject to insect depreda-
tions and disease as any vegetable grown
in our southern gardens 1t Is one of
the most profitable vegetables grown in
the market garden, especially when
brought into the market early in the
spring This very early crop is made by
sowing the seeds in cold frames in No
vember, in Middle Georgia and protect
ing the plants until it is safe to trans
plant to the open ground, in January or
February. In lower ATTITUDES the beet
can be sowed in the open ground in the
fan, needing but a slight protection with
pine straw for the very short period of
severe weather. Some winters no pro-
sections of the south. In Middle Georgia
sowings in the open ground cannot be
safely made before the latter part of Jan
uary, and if the January weather is very
severe not earlier than the middle of
February.
clayey soil is not a very good soil
IN which to grow good crop of beets
usually, but if such soil is naturally ricn,
or made SO by suitable manure, by care
ful management very fair crops can be
made on such soil. The beet delights in
d rich sandy Ioam, the more vegetable
matter in it the better. Good old compost
made well in advance of use, of stable
manure, cotton seed and phosphate, will
make beets on most any kind of soil, with
the aid of good cultivation. If the sowing
is TO be made early in February prepara-
ton of the soil can be adVantageously
done early in December or a little earlier
by laying off burrows, two or two and
one-half feet, and depositing the stable
manure, cotton seed and phosphate, with
some potash, kainit or ashes, in the fur
rows If the rows are horizontal so as not
TO wash, it matters not whether these
burrows are covered; still, If deemed
best after applying the manure the fur
rows may be listed on and thus left until
the planting time arrives. When the list
beds may be split open deeply and relisted
preparatory to sowing.
When the soil is poor. nitrate of soda
acts very quickly, and should never be put
deeply in the soil, but can be used to very
great profit after the seeds have been put
IN the ground, or even some weeks after
the plants are up. 1t should always be
used as top-dressing. Bone dust is a
fine fertilizer for beets, as for everything
else, but this should always be applied be-
low the seed, and should go into the fur
rows six to ten weeks in advance of SOW
ing. Chlorate of soda however, is a spe-
cihc for beets and some very wonderful
crops have been grown by the use of two
TO five hundred pounds as a top dressing
Names of beets have not been multiplied
10 the extent that most other vegetable
plants have been. Some forty-odd names
altogether appear in the American cat
alogues, but there are numerous syno-
nyms among these. There are not many
really distinct varieties. For garden cul-
lure It is not necessary to name but three
or four kinds. the ''Bassano," Egyptian"
Eclipse" and "Dewing's Early
The last mentioned is surpassed by no
other variety but the Bassano is a lit
tie earlier, but it's color is not so at
tractive as the Dewing or Eclipse or
Egyptian. The Eclipse is a very desirable
variety, being more globular in shape than
the others, has a small top and rich red
color. Some prefer the long-blood, but it
cannot be justly considered the equal of
the turnip-shaped kinds just named.
ihere are white and yellow varieties for
h9ch as prefer these colors, but we believe
they are not near so salable.
me Golden Tankard" is a superior va
riety for stock. When well up the young
meet plants can stand quite a severe frost
out cold severe enough to heave the sod
is likely to destroy them completely.
The soil should be thoroughly fined for
sowing, and shallow drills not over an
men deep made TO receive the Seeds
enough seed should be sown TO ensure a
perfect stand, and after being lightly COW
tred should have a roller of some kind
Iun over them, the mere rolling is suffi-
S .,.st covering usually early in the season,
"nen the sun is not hot
As soon as the young plants are up run
Seuine hoe or rake along the rows on
,aeh side close up. This will keep the
weeds IN check and give the young buds
prompt start. II the soil Is rich a plant
Sdh he left every three or four inches. in
80, IL the seed have not been sown too
ulckly and did not fall In punches, their
WI De no need for thinning at all. When
crown for table use 1t is not very desira-
~ 20 nave them very large A beet the
s1e OF tea cup is most desirable for
Sooklhg purposes, and by taking them out
~ last as they get large enough, the
o.neIs can be allowed to grow on and
NU+hd the season for some eight or ten
weeks. An immense yield OF beets can be
oD.alned by observing this plan. We have
u,|ays found u good plan to SOW some
,e'sh seed along thinly In the row with
% peets. This Is "A good plan. espec-
t,oly on a sim or muddy soil. The rad
nes soon appear In few days and mark
we rows so that cultivation can proceed,
necessary, even before the beets are
up When the radishes are grown they
ln pe drawn out, and without having
"'it the beets any harm