ROOT CROPS. 211 



class Pentandria, and order Digynia of the Liiinean system of 

 classification, and in the order Chenopodea of the natural 

 system. 



It was introduced into Great Britain from the Continent of 

 Europe at no very remote period ; but the precise time is not 

 easily ascertained, as a considerable diversity of opinion exists 

 amongst authors on this point ; probably it was the year 1773, 

 as would appear from the following extract, taken from The 

 Penny Cyclopcedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful 

 Knowledge : — " The common field-beet for cattle, which has 

 been long known in Germany, was introduced into England at 

 the latter end of the last century," to which it may be proper 

 to add, " and its introduction is generally attributed to the late 

 Dr. Letsom, a physician of great reputation, and one of the 

 Society of Friends." At its first introduction it was grown only 

 by a few enterprising gentlemen, but it gradually extended, and 

 subsequently found its way into this country, where it was, (like 

 the potato at its first introduction,) for a long time looked on 

 as a curiosity, rather than cultivated as a useful auxiliary to 

 cattle feeding. At length the success which attended its culti- 

 vation by a few individuals who ventured to give it a trial, 

 induced others to follow their example, and it thus gradually, 

 but steadily progressed, till, at the present day, it holds such a 

 place in the green cropping of this country, as no longer to 

 deserve the title of root of scarcity ; but, at the same time, is 

 not yet cultivated to such an extent as its merits seem to 

 entitle it. 



Climate and Soil. — It is capable of accommodating itself to 

 a great range of climate, flourishing in Europe, between the 

 parallels of 46° and 56° north latitude, (if the situation be not 

 too bleak or exposed,) fair crops having been raised in the 

 latter latitude in Scotland : but the climate which is considered 

 to be best suited to it is that of the south of England, where 

 frosts do not set in early, and which has a high summer 

 temperature. In this country, where the summers are not so 

 warm as in England, though enjoying a mild and genial climate, 

 with a more moist and humid atmosphere, large crops have been 

 obtained. " Local climate," says Professor Johnson, " modifies 

 very much the relative quantities of the same crops obtained in 

 different localities. Thus, in the southern part of Wigtonshire, 



