BEETROOT 25 



regards quality with those noted above ; and, though I 

 have only touched upon the value of the turnip-rooted 

 kinds for early supplies, they are equally useful if sown 

 twice or three times during the season in land that is 

 poor, shallow, or stony and unsuitable for the longer 

 roots. Sowings may be made in April, in June, 

 and in August, and thus provide a succession. The 

 kinds named are not gross growers. They do not 

 require too much space ; twelve to fifteen inches apart 

 will suffice, with half that distance between the plants. 

 Thin early to prevent the roots being disturbed, and do 

 not allow them to remain on the land in the summer 

 when full grown, but store in moist earth under a north 

 wall. The colour is affected in hot weather if the roots 

 are full grown and the soil is light and dry. The most 

 useful section, the long-rooting kinds, should not be sown 

 too early, May being quite soon enough. The previous re- 

 marks apply as regards soil and cultivation. These roots 

 do best with ample room. Fifteen to eighteen inches 

 between the rows, and half that distance between the 

 plants is none too much, and the plants benefit greatly 

 by liberal supplies of liquid manure in hot, dry weather. 

 I recently saw some wonderful crops of beet on land 

 that had a perfect system of irrigation. As regards 

 variety, I do not think that any root comes up to the 

 Cheltenham Green Top. Many years ago I first ex- 

 hibited this variety at a Vegetable Conference of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society at Chiswick, receiving an 

 Award of Merit, and since then, I am pleased to note, it 

 has become a standard variety. There are other beets 

 more shapely, but none superior in colour or flavour, 

 the latter an important point. The variety named does 

 best in rather poor soil ; if at all rich the root grows 

 too large. It should not be sown early and should be 

 given an open position. There is no lack of varieties. 

 Most of our leading seed firms have their own selected 



