CULTIVATION OF THE BEET. 85 



" The neck of this beet is very large ; the roots are 

 generally irregular, of bad shape, and have many ac- 

 cessory roots ; harvesting is difficult, especially in wet 

 weather." ( Vilmorin?) 



IMPERIAL. 



" The imperial beet is a native of Germany. It is 

 said to contain thirteen and one half per cent of sugar. 

 The root, which is carrot-shaped, has a green neck, is 

 very long, and grows entirely beneath the surface." 

 ( Vilmorin^) 



WHITE SUGAR. 

 White Silesian. Betterave blanche. Vilmorin. 



" Root fusiform, sixteen inches in length, six or seven 

 inches in its greatest diameter, contracted towards the 

 crown, thickest just below the surface of the soil, but 

 nearly retaining its size for half the depth, and thence 

 tapering regularly to a point. Skin white, washed 

 with green or rose-red at the crown. Flesh white, 

 crisp, and very sugary. Leaves green ; the leaf-stems 

 clear green, or green stained with light red, according 

 to the variety. 



u The white sugar beet is quite extensively grown in 

 this country, and is employed almost exclusively as 

 feed for stock, although the young roots are sweet, 

 tender, and well flavored, and in all respects superior 

 for the table to many garden varieties. In France it 

 is largely cultivated for the manufacture of sugar, and 

 for distillation. 



" Of the two sub-varieties, some cultivators prefer 

 the green-top ; others, the rose-colored or red-top. 



