Novel selective herbicidal compositions comprising an herbicidally effective amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-phenyl-urea, N-methyl-N-(2-chloroethylthio)-N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(4-isopropylphenyl)-urea, N-methyl-N-isopropylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea and N-methyl-N-n-butylthio-N'-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-urea and a carrier and a method of selectively killing weeds in cereal crops and fields of beets.