Cultural Directions. — 199 



No difificulty will be experienced in carrying root crops over 

 until spring in pits outdoors, in same way as farmers frequently 

 winter apples and potatoes. Select a dry spot or one for which 

 drainage can easily be provided, and dig an excavation about a 

 foot or 18 inches deep, 6 feet wide, and of the length required to 

 hold the quantity of roots to be wintered over. They are placed 

 in a conical heap, as shown in illustration on page 160, covered 

 with six, eight, ten or twelve inches of straw, 

 according to the severity of the winters in the 

 particular locality, and with a foot of soil 

 upon the straw. A whisk of straw or a sec- 

 tion of common tile drain, reaching from the 

 straw covering through the soil to the outside, 

 should be adjusted in the centre of every eight 

 or ten foot section to provide the required 

 ventilation. If such a pit is opened before the 

 cold weather has entirely passed, the roots 

 remaining in it need careful covering to guard 

 against freezing. 



)l 



VARIETIES. 



Liong Red. — This with its various strains 

 and improvements, Prize Long Red, Jumbo, 

 etc., is the variety for rich, deep soil, where it 

 grows to enormous size. 



Yellow Tankard, Golden Tankard. — A 

 beautiful, solid and prolific variety. Flesh rich, 

 deep yellow all through. 



Yellow Globe and its various strains, 

 Champion Yellow Globe, Kinver Globe, 

 etc., are preferable for shallower soil, and 

 reliable for all. Roundish in shape, beautiful, 

 solid, and altogether desirable. When young 

 they make very fine table beets; by many 

 people even preferred to the Blood varieties. 



Giant Yellov/ Intermediate. — This new 

 variety has a magnificent root, which is easily 

 lifted from the ground. Produces very large 

 crops, and has proven itself to be a most 

 excellent keeper. Has a fine neck, large 

 leaves with green stems, and very smooth skin ; flesh firm and 

 sweet. 



Gatepost. — One of the very finest mangels. The roots are 

 heavy, handsome and clean, with single tap-root. Very rich 

 and nutritious. With good cultivation crops at the rate of 2 500 

 bushels per acre have been grown. 



