CHENOPODIACE^ 



313 



The plant is a biennial with a somewhat branched and 

 thickened, but not fleshy, root system. The leaves are 

 clustered at the surface of the ground (Fig. 127); they bear 

 large, thick leaf stalks and large blades. The leaf stalks 

 are often as much as 2 feet long and i to 3 inches thick. 



The chief variety grown in this country is Lucullus, one 

 in which the leaves are heavily crumpled or "savoyed." 

 Swiss chard is a variety with dark, green leaves. There 

 are forms of chard with white, red or pink leaf stalks. 



Chard is grown for its tender leaves and petioles. The 

 leaves are boiled Hke spinach, and the petioles are served like 

 asparagus. 



MANGEL-WURZELS OR MANGELS 1 



To this group belong the stock-feeding varieties of Beta vul- 

 garis. The botanical characters are very similar to those 

 given for the sugar beet. 



-Types of mangels. A, long; B, intermediate; C, tankard; D' 

 globe. (After Percival.) 



Types. — As to shape, there are. four well-recognized types 

 of mangels (Fig. 128): 



1. Glohe. — In these varieties, the roots are globular, and 

 project above ground for more than half their length (Yellow 

 Globe, Orange Globe). 



2. Tankard. — Varieties of this type have roots which are 



