“Beets like rich, sandy loam, also.  Fresh manure worked into the soil is fatal for beets, as it is for many another crop.  But we will suppose that nothing is available but fresh manure.  Some gardeners say to work this into the soil with great care and thoroughness.  But even so, there is danger of a particle of it getting next to a tender beet root.  The following can be done; Dig a trench about a foot deep, spread a thin layer of manure in this, cover it with soil, and plant above this.  By the time the main root strikes down to the manure layer, there will be little harm done.  Beets should not be transplanted.  If the rows are one foot apart there is ample space for cultivation.  Whenever the weather is really settled, then these seeds may be planted.  Young beet tops make fine greens.  Greater care should be taken in handling beets than usually is shown.  When beets are to be boiled, if the tip of the root and the tops are cut off, the beet bleeds.  This means a loss of good material.  Pinching off such parts with the fingers and doing this not too closely to the beet itself is the proper method of handling.  I throw this in for the benefit of our future cooks, the girls.

“There are big coarse members of the beet and cabbage families called the mangel wurzel and ruta baga.  About here these are raised to feed to the cattle.  They are a great addition to a cow’s dinner.

“The cabbage family is a large one.  There is the cabbage proper, then cauliflower, broccoli or a more hardy cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts and kohlrabi, a cabbage-turnip combination.  George has worked out cabbage culture successfully.  I refer to him for full particulars.

“Cauliflower is a kind of refined, high-toned cabbage relative.  It needs a little richer soil than cabbage and cannot stand the frost.  A frequent watering with manure water gives it the extra richness and water it really needs.  The outer leaves must be bent over, as in the case of the young cabbage, in order to get the white head.  The dwarf varieties are rather the best to plant.

“Kale is not quite so particular a cousin.  It can stand frost.  Rich soil is necessary, and early spring planting, because of slow maturing.  It may be planted in September for early spring work.

“Brussels sprouts are a very popular member of this family.  On account of their size many people who do not like to serve poor, common old cabbage will serve these.  Brussels sprouts are interesting in their growth.  The plant stalk runs skyward.  At the top, umbrella like, is a close head of leaves, but this is not what we eat.  Shaded by the umbrella and packed all along the stalk are delicious little cabbages or sprouts.  Like the rest of the family a rich soil is needed and plenty of water during the growing period.  The seed should be planted in May, and the little plants transplanted into rich soil in late July.  The rows should be eighteen inches apart, and the plants one foot apart in the rows.