Crop Report (Croport)

    
     Isn't that an adorable little plant? It's only about an inch and a half across and it's a sugar beet. The big leaves are called Cotyledons and the plant sprouts with them. They're mostly just for getting started, they'll soon be overshadowed (somewhat literally) by the true leaves. That's what those two little leaves are. True leaves are much more photosynthetic.

     Looking closely you can just see a row of these newly sprouted beets. Their cotyledons are shining in the sun. These rows of plants are 22 inches apart to maximize their growth and yield. Differing places, times, and farmers lead to differing row spacings.

     Alfalfa, for example, is spaced at 22 inches as well. At least this field is. As before, a farmer may choose to be a bit different for some reason. If this alfalfa looks less grown than earlier pictures to you, that's because it's been knocked back that far. Through whippings, sprayings, and cultivatings farmers retard the growth of alfalfa so that it will bloom at the same time the bees are hatching. But we've been over this before.

     This is a corn field, technically. I say technically because there's no corn planted here yet. The rows of corn are, or rather, will be 30 inches apart. It helps to get the ground a bit damp before you plant. With some moisture already there, the questing roots of the corn will find it much more hospitable ground.
     Soon, much more than just beets will be sprouting, and I'll have so much to describe to you. I'm excited! Are you excited?