Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 75 



Beschorneria yuccoides, C. Koch. 



Mexico, at rocky elevations from 8,000 to 10,000 feet [Finckl. 

 This handsome plant will bear slight frost. The stem attains a 

 height of 6 feet, and produces flowers annually like Yuccas. The 

 leaves yield a remarkably fine and strong fibre [T. Christy]. The 

 two other known species, also from Mexico, B. tubiflora (Kunth) 

 and B. Parmentierii (Jacobi), are probably similarly useful. 



Beta vulgaris, Linn6.* 



The "Beet and Mangold-Wurzel." Middle and Southern Europe, 

 Western and Middle Asia, Northern Africa, extending naturally to 

 the Canary-Islands. Hardy in Norway to lat. 70 4' [Schuebeler]. 

 This well-known perennial or biennial herb ought to engage the 

 general and extensive attention of any farming population. Can 

 be grown for mere foliage even in sandy soil near the sea, and is 

 often chosen for the first crop on heath-lands in Northern Germany. 

 Produces still good crops in sub-tropical countries. The herbage 

 is most valuable as a palatable and nutritious spinage ; the root is 

 of importance not only as a culinary vegetable, but, as is well 

 known, also for containing crystal Usable sugar. The sugar of the 

 beet is indeed now almost exclusively consumed in Russia, Ger- 

 many, Austria, France, Sweden and Belgium ; and these countries 

 not only produce beet-sugar for home consumption, but also export 

 it largely to the neighbouring States. The white Sicilian Beet is 

 mainly used for salads, spinage, and soups. The thick-ribbed 

 variety serves like asparagus or sea-kale, dressed like rhubarb. 

 The seeds will retain the power of germination for several years ; 

 they mature well even in the hot desert-tracts of Central Australia, 

 where beet for the table can be obtained throughout the year [Rev. 

 H. Kempe]. Mangold-crops succeed on some sorts of freshly 

 reclaimed soil. Prof. Hilgard writes that on the Alkali-land of 

 Middle California, which is pervaded by sulphate of sodium, beet has 

 succeeded fairly well. Cereal-soil, particularly such as is fit for barley, 

 is generally adapted also for the culture of beet. The rearing of the 

 root and the manufacture of the sugar can be studied from mani- 

 fold works ; one has been compiled by Hon. N. Levi, of Melbourne. 

 A deeply stirred drained soil, rich in lime, brings the saccharine 

 variety of beet to greatest perfection. The Imperial beet yields 

 from 12 to 20 per cent, sugar. The Castlenauderry, the Magdeburg, 

 the Siberian White-rib and the Vilmorin-Beet are other varieties 

 rich in sugar. About 5 Ibs. of seed are required for an acre. In 

 rotation of crops the beet takes its place best between barley and 

 oats. In Middle-Europe the yield averages 14 tons of sugar-beet 

 to the acre, and as many hundredweight of raw sugar. The mer- 

 cantile value of the root, at distilleries, ranges from 10s. to 20s. per 

 ton. In climates not subject to frost, the beet-harvest can be 

 extended over a far greater portion of the year than in Middle 



