278 



Yellow Beet. 



Vol. VL 



For the Farmers' Cabinet, 

 Yellow Beet. 



Mr. Editor, — After all tliat has been said 

 and written on the subject, I believe it will 

 be confessed, even by the friends of the sugar- 

 beet culture for the purpose of cattle feed, 

 that that crop has not uniformly proved of the 

 value and importance which was once consi- 

 dered to be its due ; it therefore behooves its 

 advocates to examine into the real state of 

 the case, and endeavour to point out the 

 cause of such contradictory statements; for 

 that there is a very wide difference of opinion 

 on the cost and trouble of the culture, as welt 

 as the expenditure of the root after it is 

 grown, cannot be denied. And I would far- 

 ther hint, that as you, Mr. Editor, were in- 

 strumental in the introduction of the crop 

 amongst ns, it is but reasonable that you 

 should feel much interest in the question. 1 

 have sometimes thought it probable that the 

 Silesian or white beet may not be the best for 

 cattle, whatever might be its pretensions for 

 the purpose of making sugar; for 1 well re- 

 member that the seed which was first intro- 

 duced from France by the Beet-Sugar Socie- 

 ty, embraced a yellow variety, which, accord- 

 ing to every account, was of peculiar value 

 to the farmer, the roots growing large and 

 globular, of fine flavour, and remaining suc- 

 culent through the whole winter, and even 

 until very late in the summer, without a par- 

 ticle of that ill flavour which is now so often 

 complained of, and the diuretic effects of 

 which were so vividly pourtrayed by B in his 

 very interesting account of his last year's 

 trial and exercises in the propagation of that 

 root of vexation, at page 59 of the Cabinet 

 for September last. This yellow beet was 

 largely expended for family use during the 

 winter, with a decided preference to the gar- 

 den beet ; and I have therefore been ever 

 since endeavouring to meet with seed of the 

 same sort, but without effect, although I ad- 

 dressed a note to you on the subject, which 

 appeared in the 4th vol. of the Cabinet, p. 285. 



These things considered, I thought I would 

 inquire what are now your opinions as to the 

 real value of the beet crop as food for stock, 

 and whether it be not quite probable that the 

 distinction pointed out above has some foun- 

 dation in truth. It is true, there are still 

 many who adhere to the culture of the sugar- 

 beet; but it is also a fact, that many have 

 abandoned it in de^pnir, and are now contem- 

 plating the growth of the potatoe for feeding 

 stock, now that you have shown them the 

 case with which they might be cooked by the 

 ingenious contrivance exhibited at p. 217 of 

 the Cabinet for P\l)rnary last, and which will 

 no doubt be adopted by many on a larije scale. 

 And with this view, 1 would also ask which, 



in your opinion, is the best kind of potatoe for 

 stock-feeding? I know that many prefer the 

 Rohan on accoant of its productiveness; at 

 the same time it is, I believe, admitted that 

 the quality is inferior. I have a neighbour 

 who prefers the yellow-fleshed potatoe, con- 

 sidering the yellow colour of roots indicative 

 of richness — the yellow turnips, the Scotch 

 and ruta-baara, the purple-top variety espe- 

 cially, the parsnep, the beet above-snentioned, 

 as also the potatoe of that colour. And could 

 we but realize one half the crop that General 

 Barnum is said to have raised per acre, the 

 potatoe would cause the beet, as well as all 

 other crops, to " hide their diminished heads.'* 

 By the bye, Mr. Editor, how are we to re- 

 ceive that account of the General's "later 

 patch" — is it to he cum grunitm sulis? 1 

 wish you could give us his mo<le of cultiva- 

 tion ; it would be exceedingly interesting to 

 us 230-lmshel-men. W. R. 



VVc weil remember the very general satiBfaction 

 which the seed of the yellow variety of heet, sent from 

 France on the first injportalion.gave So tbe agricultur- 

 ists of tl/is country, and many have since regretted 

 that it could no longer he obtained; tlie crop being 

 quite as large as that raised from the Silesian variety, 

 while the quality is infinitely superior in the estima- 

 tion of many who have since abandoned the culture on 

 account of the bad flavour which they communicate to 

 the butter in the spring — a time when their use is most 

 needed : and we are free to confess, that although the 

 Silesian beet has been uniformly preferred for the pur- 

 pose of makinj; sugar, in all proljnbility the yellow va- 

 riety will be found of greater utility in tl»e feeding of 

 stock, its saccharine matter being by m.Tny considered 

 equal to that of the Silesian, althoiigb not so easily ex- 

 tracted, and granulating with more difliculty in the 

 manufacture of sugar; retaining its juices later in the 

 spring, without exhibiting that tendeni-y to fermenta- 

 tion peculiar to the Silesian — its saccharine quality 

 appearing to consist rather of molasses than sugar. 

 Much, however, of the difierence of opinion on the sub- 

 ject arises, it is considered, from a mistake in the pro- 

 per season for its cultivation ; for with those who have 

 sown the seed of the Silesian beet after the growth of 

 a spring crop of peas, they have been found to retain 

 their good qualities till late in the season, and produc- 

 tive of theliest results. The supposition seems to be 

 well grounded, that the climate of many portions of 

 this country, as well as the nature of tJ>c soil, are too 

 hot and dry for the full developement of the Silesian 

 beet, bringing on a too early maturity, with acidity of 

 its juices — just as we witness some fruits, the goose- 

 berry, raspberry, currant and strawberry, which are 

 grown to much greater perfection in the colder and 

 more humid climate of England : indeed, the cultivation 

 of the beef for sugar is confined to the low country of 

 France — the northern part— the more southern having 

 been found inimical to its proper developement ; but it 

 is believed the yellow globe beet can be raise<l here with 

 pf-rfect success; and we take the opportunity to say, 

 the seed of that variety, packed in parcels of 1 lb. each, 

 bearing the signature of the French importer, may b» 



