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BEET-ROOT 



BEETLE. A name usually given to tho insects of tho Coleopterous order, espe- 

 cially to those of a dark colour. The species of Coleopterous insects known amount 

 to nearly 40,000. The cantharides, or blistering-flies, are used medicinally. The 

 larva of Cerambyx hcros was regarded by tho Romans as a delicacy. The American 

 Indians eat the larva of Calandra palmarum. Tho name is applied to tho annoying 

 insects which infest the kitchens of houses in large towns ; they are the blatta or 

 cockroach, and belong to the Orthopterous order. 



BEETEB'S WINGS, Tho elytra or wing cases of tho more brilliantly coloured beetles 

 (Coleoptera), are used in making head-dresses for ladies, and for decorating muslins, 

 scarfs, and ball dresses. In Brazil especially, those wings are used for ornaments, 

 and much art is bestowed in their production. Since the Exhibition of 1862, when 

 Brazil exhibited a collection of the beetle's wing ornaments, they have been regularly 

 imported. 



BEETLE, or Maul. A large mallet, with a handle about three feet in length, 

 used for knocking the corners of framed work, and setting it in its proper position. 

 Also a mallet used for driving piles, raised by ropes and pullies sometimes called 

 Boytle. 



BEETLE STONES. A name given in South Wales to septarian nodules of the 

 clay ironstone from the coal-measures. 



BEETXiXNG MACHINE. A machine used for producing ornamental figured 

 fabrics by pressure from corrugated or indented surface rollers. 



BEET-ROOT. (Bctterate, Fr. ; rothe Rube, Ger.) Tho large fleshy root of the 

 beet, a plant of the genus Seta. There are two distinct species cultivated, each con- 

 taining several varieties. One called Hortensis, producing succulent leaves only ; the 

 other, the Vulgaris, distinguished by its long fleshy root. The variety of the Vulgaris, 

 known as the red beet, is much cultivated in our gardens, and used as a vegetable. 

 The white beet is in much repute in Belgium and France for the manufacture of sugar. 

 See SUGAH. 



The common field beet, for cattle, which has been long known in Germany, was 

 introduced into England at the latter end of the last century ; and its introduction is 

 generally attributed to the late Dr. Lettsom, a physician of great repute, and one of 

 the Society of Friends. The German name is mangold wurzel, or mangold root, but 

 is commonly pronounced mangel wurzel, which means scarcity root ; and, by a strange 

 translation, it is called in French ratine d'abondancc, or root of plenty, as well as 

 ratine de disette, or root of scarcity. The name field beet is much more appropriate. 

 Penny Cyclopaedia. 



The Analyses of Way and Ogston give the following Composition for two Varieties of 

 the Beet-root, and the Analysis of Griepenkerl for another. 



The quantity of beet-root used in tho Zollverein States of Germany in the manu- 

 facture of sugar was as follows : 



