BEETS. 



The Beet is a favorite vegetable, and is exceedingly valuable, being in use almost from the 



time the seed-leaf appears above ground 

 until we are looking for its appearance the 

 next year. The seeds are in 

 little groups or clusters of cal- 

 yxes, as seen in the little en- 

 graving, so that each rounded 

 cluster which we call a seed, really contains 

 from two to four true seeds. The conse- 

 quence is that the plants come up much 

 thicker than necessary, and must be thinned 

 out. There is nothing in the way of 

 "greens" as good as these young Beets, 

 and the thinnings of the beds can be used 

 as needed, from the time the young plants 

 are two or three inches in length until they 

 are large enough for ordinary use. To pre- 

 serve the roots in fine condition during the 

 winter, take them up carefully before hard 

 frosts, and pack them in a cool cellar, and 

 cover with earth. For spring use they 

 may be pitted in the ground. The seeds 

 germinate more surely and rapidly if put in 

 warm water and allowed to soak for twenty- 

 four hours. The soil should be rich, mellow, 

 and deep. Plant in drills, about two inches 

 deep, and the rows about twelve or fifteen 



inches apart. Set the seeds in the drills about two inches apart. An ounce of seed will sow 

 about seventy-five feet of drill, and five pounds are sufficient 

 for an acre. The varieties' of Beets are very numerous, and 

 quite diversified in form ?nd appearance, from the little 

 round, table, turnip-formed varieties, to the large, coarse 

 sorts, sometimes three feet in length, and fit only for cattle. 

 Figure 1 shows the Large Red Mangel, one of the best for 

 feeding to stock; fig. 2, the Early Blood Turnip, a very 



smooth, pretty variety ; fig. 

 3, the Pine Apple, a com- 

 paratively new and good 

 dark variety ; fig. 4, Bas- 

 sano, an old favorite, juicy 

 sort, tender and light col- 

 ored ; fig. 5, Dewing's Tur- 

 nip, a week earlier than 

 Blood Turnip, lighter 

 fleshed, and an excellent 

 variety; fig. 6, Carter's 

 Orange Globe Mangel, 

 thought in England to be 

 the best round variety ; fig. 

 7, the old and excellent 

 Long Blood Red. The 

 Swiss Chard, of which we 

 show the leaves, is a vari- 

 ety of Beet cultivated for the broad leaf-stalks, which are cooked and served like Asparagus. 

 Plants should stand a foot or more apart in the rows, and the rows three feet, for field culture. 



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