172 Beets, 



VEGETABLES — THEIR HISTORY, USE, VARIETIES, 

 AND CULTURE. — III. 



By Alexander Hyde, Lee, Mass. 



Beets. 



The beet {Beta vulgaris) is a native of Southern Europe, where it 

 grows wild on the sea-shore, and was originally cultivated for its leaves, 

 which were boiled and used as greens, much like spinach, the roots 

 being no larger than a man's thumb. A variety, called Beta cycla, is 

 still cultivated for its leaves alone ; but the root is the main thing sought 

 for in rnodern cultivation, though the young and tender leaves furnish 

 " greens " which are preferred by some to spinach. 



The root of the beet is not strictly a true root, but a fleshy protuber- 

 ance of the stem, to which the roots are attached. The bulbous portion 

 of some varieties grows below the surface of the earth ; in others, much 

 of it is above, exposed to the air. If a root is cut transversely, it will 

 be found to be composed of concentric zones of fibrous vessels and cellu- 

 lar tissue, and the, leaf-stalks will be seen to penetrate deeply, forming 

 what is called the hearty around which the bulbous matter is distributed 

 in zones. The leaves and heart contain no sugar, but much inorganic 

 matter, or ash, and are more valuable as food than is generally sup- 

 posed. In the cellular tissue the saccharine matter is deposited in 

 liquid form, and the sugar is found in the greatest abundance in young 

 beets, and in that part which grows under ground. 



Uses. 



Beets have long been a favorite table vegetable, and they are also 

 used extensively in France and Germany for the manufacture of sugar, 

 and in all parts of Europe and the United States as food for stock. The 

 consumption of sugar is increasing at a rapid rate both in this country 

 and Europe, and it is well worthy of consideration whether we cannot 

 make sugar and feed stock at the same time from our beet crop. We 

 understand some experiments are being made in the manufacture of 

 sugar from beets at the Massachusetts Agricultural College in Amherst, 

 and if Professor Goessman will do for America what Napoleon I. did 

 for France in this line, the state will not regret the money spent upon 

 the .college. For table use beets are most esteemed when young, both 



