358 APPENDIX. 



prongs. It is cultivated at Santa Fe and Caraccas r and is light, 

 starchy, and wholesome. It is said to thrive best in the elevated 

 regions of mountains, where the medium heat does not exceed 60. 

 It deserves trial with us, 



3. ARROW ROOT. Maranta. 



A perennial plant, a native of South America. The roots are 

 tuberous, jointed, and produce a starch, one of the most nourishing 

 of vegetable substances, and useful in medicine. Its successful cul- 

 tivation has been introduced in the Southern States. It requires a 

 light, rich soil, and is propagated by dividing at the root. It is very 

 productive, for, according to Mr. Russell, from two small tubers 

 twelve bushels were produced in two seasons at St. Helena. 



4. BEET. Beta. 



An annual plant, a native of the south of Europe. The leaves 

 are long, thick, and succulent; the root large, of a tuberous or con- 

 ical form, and sweet taste. 



I shall describe the beet under three heads : 



1st. Those whose roots only are used for culinary purposes. 



2d. Poirees, or those whose tops constitute the main part which 

 is used in cookery. 



3d. Beets for forage of domestic animals, or for sugar. 



I, BEETS. 



1. Early Blood Turnip-Rooted. 



2. Early Dwarf Blood. 



3. Long Blood Beet. 



4. Early Orange, or Yelloio Turnip-Rooted. 



5. Early White Scarcity. 



No. 1 is of fine quality, and is deemed earliest; it will grow in thin 

 soils, and the tops are valuable for greens. No. 3 is the most val- 

 uable for the main crop. The roots of these varieties are a superior 

 class of vegetables for boiling ; they are also used as salads, and form 

 a highly-esteemed pickle. For an early crop, sow as early in April 

 as the ground will admit, and from thence to the early part of June 

 for the winter crop ; in rows a foot asunder, and four inches apart in 

 the row. 



II. POIREES. 



6. Sir John Sinclair's Beet, or Swiss Chard. 



7. Green Beet. 



The Swiss Chard has leaves nearly three feet long ; the stalks are 

 remarkably large, long, white, tender, and succulent. They are 

 boiled like asparagus, and the leaves like spinach. It is much used 

 in Switzerland and in France, furnishing a very superior article for 

 greens during summer. No. 7 is used for soups and stews. 



HI. BEETS FOR FORAGE OR THE FOOD OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS, 

 AND FOR SUGAR. 



8. Mangel Wurtzel, or Disette, or Scarcity. 



9. French Sugar Beet, or White Silesian. 



Both these varieties grow about half way out of ground, and of 

 extraordinary size. For these reasons they are peculiarly calculated 



