103 
This beet root, like that of the bean, is useful both 
in holding the plant in place and in providing it with 
food and drink. 
But the fleshy root of the beet does something else, — 
something that is not attempted by the fibrous root of 
the bean. 
Here we must stop for a moment 
and look into the life of the beet 
plant. 
During its first year, the beet puts 
out leaves; it neither flowers. nor 
fruits, but it eats and drinks a great 
deal. And as it does not use up any 
of this food in flowering or fruiting, 
iis able to lay-by-much of it in its 
root, which grows large and heavy in 
consequence. When the next spring 
comes on, the beet plant is not obliged, 
like so many of its brothers and sis- 
ters,-to set out to earn its living. This 
is provided already. And so it bursts 
into flower without delay, its food lying 
close at hand in its great root. 
So you see that a fleshy root, like 
that of the beet, does three things : — 
1. It holds the plant in place. 
2. It provides it with food and 
drink. 
4. lt acts:as a storehouse. 
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These plants that lay by food for another year are 
useful as food for man. Their well-stocked roots are 
