8 ESCULENT ROOTS. 



and should have a space of twenty inches between the rows ; 

 but when sown late, fifteen inches between the rows, and six 

 inches between the plants in the rows, will afford ample 

 space for their development. 



Early Blood The roots of this familiar variety are pro- 

 Turnip- 

 Booted. duced almost entirely within the earth, and 



EARLY TURNIP 



BEET. measure, when of average size, from four inches 

 half in depth, and about four inches 

 in diameter. Form turbinate, flatten- 

 ed, smooth, and symmetrical. Neck 

 small, tap-root very slender, and regu- 

 . larly tapering. Skin deep purplish red. 

 Flesh deep blood-red, sometimes circled 

 and rayed with paler red, remarkably 

 sweet and tender. Leaves erect, not 

 very numerous, and of a deep-red color, 

 sometimes inclining to green ; but the 

 stems and nerves always of a deep bril- 



Early Blood Turnip-Rooted. liant re(L 



The Early Blood Turnip Beet succeeds well from Canada 

 to the Gulf of Mexico ; and in almost every section of the 

 United States is more esteemed, and more generally culti- 

 vated for early use, than any other variety. Among 

 market-gardeners, it is the most popular of the summer 

 beets. It makes a rapid growth, comes early to the table, 

 and, when sown late, keeps well, and is nearly as valuable 

 for use in winter as in summer and autumn. 



In common with most of the table sorts, the turnip-rooted 

 beets are much sweeter and more tender if pulled before they 

 are fully grown ; and consequently, to have a continued sup- 

 ply in their greatest perfection, sowings should be made from 

 the beginning of April to the last of June, at intervals of two 

 or three weeks. 



