ESCULENT ROOTS. 



Bassano. Bulb flattened ; six or seven inches in diameter 

 BA L SSANO A . by three or four inches in depth ; not very regular 



TURNIP-ROOTED 



EAKLY. or symmetrical, but often somewhat ribbed, and 



terminating in a small, slender tap-root. Skin of 

 fine texture ; brown above ground ; be- 

 low the surface, clear rose-red. Flesh 

 white, circled or zoned with bright pink ; 

 not close-grained, but very sugary and 

 well-flavored. Leaves numerous, erect, 

 of a lively green color, forming many 

 separate groups or tufts, covering the 

 entire top, or crown of the root. Leaf- 

 stems short, greenish-white, washed or 

 stained with rose. 



An Italian variety, generally consid- 

 Best ered the earliest of garden-beets, being 



from seven to ten days earlier than the Early Blood Turnip- 

 rooted. The flesh, although much coarser than that of 

 many other sorts, is tender, sweet, and of good quality. 

 Roots from early sowings are, however, not suited for winter 

 use ; as, when overgrown, they almost invariably become too 

 tough, coarse, and fibrous for table use. To have them in 

 perfection during winter, the seed should not be sown till 

 near the close of June. 



In moist, favorable seasons, it succeeds well in compara- 

 tively poor, thin soil. 



Cultivate and preserve as directed for the Early Turnip- 

 rooted. 



Cattell's Root small, regularly tapering. Flesh deep 



Blood, blood-red. Leaves small, bright red, spreading, 



or inclined to grow horizontally. Quality good, similar 



to that of the Red Castelnaudary ; which variety it much 



resembles in its general character. 



