THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. H7 



effect on its temperature. Some time in March the whole stock 

 should be taken out, and the new roots and shoots rubbed off and the 

 stock pitted again. The roots should be laid horizontally, as that 

 position affords a slight check to growth. But once a month at least 

 — if late keeping is important — they should all be looked over, and 

 every sign of growth removed, for if allowed to make roots and 

 leaves they soon become worthless. 



As for the cultivation, it is the simplest matter in the world. 

 Sow in shallow drills, putting the seed as nearly as possible singly 

 six inches apart. As nearly as possible, mind, and do not waste 

 valuable time about it, because if you sow too thick, it is no great 

 task to thin the rows to nine inches or a foot apart, when the plants 

 are large enough to handle. It is not desirable to grow large beets 

 as a rule, but if they are required, proceed in the same way as re- 

 commended for the production of large parsnips. For open ground 

 crops, where especial earliness of production is of no consequence, 

 sow in April and May, and take up in November. When storing 

 them, cut off the tails and some portion of the crowns, but be care- 

 ful not to wound any part of the usable fleshy root, for there should 

 never be a puncture in a beet until it is cooked and cold — -in fact, 

 the cook who would put a fork into a beet to try if it is " done," 

 ought to be disarmed without the honours of war. But careful top- 

 ping and tailing is to be advised, as it promotes close storing, and 

 prevents growth in spring. All the varieties of beets have been 

 grown again and again in the Experimental Garden at Stoke New- 

 ington, and, as a matter of course, we find that very few are needed 

 in any ordinary garden. The three best are Sutton's Dark Red, 

 Nutting's Dwarf Bed, and Henderson's Pine Apple. If large and 

 handsome roots are desired, grow DelVs Short Top, and Whjtis Blade. 

 For particularly small and delicate roots of fine flavour, grow Carter's 

 St. Osytli. If the soil is shallow, and the production of handsome 

 roots doubtful, sow Egyptian Turnip Booted. Beet is occasionally 

 grow in the flower garden for the sake of the deep colour of its 

 leaves. In this case, a green-leaved variety will not do, so, therefore 

 Barr and Sug den's Crimson-leaved is the best. 



Salsify is sometimes called the " Vegetable Oyster," because, 

 when properly dressed, its flavour reminds lovers of that favourite 

 mollusk of the joys that belong to months in which the letter R 

 occurs. I must confess that, although I have enjoyed many a dish 

 of salsify, I have never yet found it a sufficient substitute for the 

 buttery bivalve, and am content to know it as salsify simply, without 

 aid of a comparative designation. This root has a natural tendency 

 to forkedness, which it is the duty of the cultivator to correct, by 

 treating it precisely as recommended for the production of extra 

 large parsnips — that is by trenching, and putting a good bed of 

 manure in the bottom of the trench. It would be vain to talk of 

 growing salsify extra large, for the fact is, it is never large enough, 

 and is, therefore, seldom worth having unless grown with especial 

 attention to its fullest possible development. Be liberal with it, 

 therefore, or do not grow it at all. Prepare the ground in autumn, 

 manuring as advised, and sow in April, in row 7 s a foot apart at least. 



