QARDEN VEUETABLEH — UEETS. 



GA.RDEN VEGETABLES, NO. 12. — I5KETS. 



BY WM. CIIORLTON. 



The nuiny sorts of beets which are peiicnilly made use of fur the kitclieu are 

 all of biennial duration ; they beloii;j: to the natural order Chcnopodcce or Spi- 

 naceous jilants, and are recojrnized l)y the botanist as two speeies, viz., Jiiin 

 vithjaris and B. cichi. The prol)ability is, however, that these are uothiuf^ more 

 than well-marked varieties; certainly, as practically presented to us, the thing; is 

 as clearly defined in some of the diflereut sorts that are cultivated and known to 

 be only such. The whole genus is indigenous to the temperate and warm parts 

 of Europe, and has been accepted in the list of edibles since the time of the elder 

 Tradescant. Notwithstanding their eastern origin, beets thrive as well on our 

 western continent, and enjoy the influence of our sunny skies, as is proved by the 

 greater amount of saccharine matter which is deposited in the roots. This fact 

 explains the reason why many esculents are consumed here to a large amount that 

 are only made available in the northern parts of that country as additions, in the 

 form of pickle, &c., upon the tal)les of luxury. Such is the case with beets; yet 

 we have them as a wholesome and every-day dish throughout the year. To main- 

 tain this uninterrupted supply in the best state recpiires a series of sowings, by 

 which young and tender roots can always be had. Tiie Turnip-rooted kinds may 

 be put in from the commencement of the ground being in good working order 

 after winter, at intervals of three weeks, up to the middle of July, in the more 

 northern States, and the latter part of August as we proceed further south. 

 The sowing of the Long-rooted sorts should be discontinued some three weeks 

 earlier, as otherwise the roots would not mature sufBciently to keep well through 

 the winter. 



Beets will grow better than most other root crops in a partial shade, but are 

 always of much superior quality, and more profitable, when in an open exposure. 

 The soil should also be rich, light, and mellow. If abundantly manured for a 

 previous crop so much the Ijettcr; but when not so, ai)ply a liberal dressing of 

 good rotted barn-yard dung, which dig in, and break up the soil well as the work 

 ])roceeds. §ow the seeds two inches asunder, iu drills one foot apart and one 

 inch deep ; cover up carefully. Here I would protest against that everlasting 

 use of the rake in the vegetable garden, which some men are so guilty of. To 

 cover seeds which are sown in drills, commence at the end, go along, with a foot 

 on each side, turn the heels inwards, and the toes outwards ; rub the feet liglitly 

 on the surface, and see how nicely the soil, pulverized in this way, will fall into 

 the drill, and how evenly the seeds will be covered ; and my word for it, if you 

 are not wedded to old prejudices, or have any mechanical idea to guide you in 

 the operation, you will never use a rake again for the same purpose. This is far 

 better than drawing the rougher, and, often, through bad spade work, hard lumps 

 upon delicate seeds, part of which are weighed down so much that they are pre- 

 vented from ever rising above ground, and others left exposed to the atmosphere 

 and drying winds. Thus many an honest seedsman is very unjustly blamed for 

 selling bad seeds when the fault has been in this ignorant procedure. In this 

 particular case a small portion of ground is sufficient for each succession; conse- 

 quently, it should be forecasted so as not to make this take the position of a 

 permanent summer crop, but make use of the outside borders, or those pieces 

 which can be again filled up with some article to succeed on the same spot, or 

 been before occupied by some transient production. A little reflection will rend 



