THE BEET. 11 



dark blood-red, sweet, tender, and fine grained, while the 

 root is young and small, but liable to be tough 

 and fibrous when full grown. Leaves small, 

 erect, red, and not very numerous. Leaf-stems 

 blood-red. 



This beet, like the Common Long Blood, is 

 a popular winter sort, retaining its color well 

 when boiled. It is of larger size than the last 

 named, grows more above the surface of the 

 ground, and has fewer fibrous and accidental 

 small side-roots. While young, it compares favor- 

 ably with the old variety ; but, when full grown, 

 can hardly be said to be much superior. To 

 have the variety in its greatest perfection for 

 winter use, the seed should not be sown before 

 the 10th of June ; as the roots of this, as well as 

 those of nearly all the table varieties, are much 

 more tender and succulent when very rapidly 

 grown, and of about two thirds their full size. 



Sow in drills fifteen inches apart, and thin to 

 eight inches apart in the drills ; or sow on ridges 



Imp Bro e o d d L ng eighteen inches apart. 



The roots of this familiar variety are long, Long Blood. 



. . COMMON 



tapering, and comparatively slender ; the size LONG BLOOD. 

 varying according to the depth and richness of the soil. 

 Skin dark purple, sometimes purplish-black. Flesh deep 

 blood-red, very fine grained and sugary, retaining its color 

 well after being boiled. Leaves rather numerous, of medium 

 size, erect, deep purplish-red ; the leaf-stems blood-red. 



One of the most popular of winter beets ; but, for late 

 keeping, the seed should not be sown before the middle 

 of June, as the roots, when large, are frequently tough and 

 fibrous. 



