BEE 



[122] 



BEE 



fall unproductive of either fruit or seed. 

 At the same time they are as often in- 

 jurious by causing cross impregnations, 

 and actually injuring flowers in their 

 eiforts to get at the honey. The honey 

 bee (A. mellifica) is the most active in 

 this operation ; but the humble bee (Bom- 

 bus apis), and others of the robust species, 

 visit flowers in rough weather, when the 

 honey bee will not venture from its hive. 



BEECH. Fagus. 



BEET. There are two sections of this 

 vegetable cultivated by gardeners. 



1. For the leaves to boil, like spin- 

 ach, and the stalks of the leaves like 

 sea-kale. Brazilian Beet (Beta, Bra- 

 ziliemis), with very large green leaves. 

 Thick-leaved Beet (B. cicla), of which 

 there are these varieties : 1. Green- 

 leaved, small-rooted. 2. White-veined, 

 or silver. 3. Golden-veined. 4. Red- 

 veined. The silver is the finest, and 

 when blanched as the chard nearly equals 

 asparagus. The leaves of all are boiled 

 like spinach, and the foot-stalks peeled 

 and used as sea-kale. 



2. Red Beet (B. vulgaris). Nine 

 varieties occur of this, but the yellow 

 and white-rooted not meriting cultiva- 

 tion are here omitted. The others are : 

 1. Large-rooted. 2. Long-rooted. 3. 

 Dwarf-topped. 4. Turnip-rooted. 5. 

 Small. 6. Castlenaudari. 7. Green- 

 topped. Of these, No. 4 is best for an 

 early crop, and No. 6 for the main crop, 

 if obtained genuine. There are many 

 sub-varieties, but scarcely distinguish- 

 able from each other. For table use, 

 the object is to obtain moderate sized, 

 and dark crimson roots. 



Use. The Red Beet, after being 

 cooked, is used sliced in salads, or alone 

 with an acid dressing. It is much better 

 baked than boiled. 



Soil and Situation. Beet requires a 

 rich deep open soil. Its richness should 

 rather rise from previous application, 

 than the addition of manure at the time 

 of sowing; and to erfect this, the com- 

 partment intended for the growth of 

 these vegetables is advantageously pre- 

 pared as directed for celery. On the soil 

 depends the sweetness and tenderness for 

 which they are estimated ; and it may 

 be remarked, that on poor light soils or 

 heavy ones, the best sorts will taste 



earthy. The situation should be open 

 but it is of advantage to have the bed 

 shaded from the meridian sun in summer. 

 "We have always found it beneficial to dig 

 the ground two spades deep for these 

 deep-rooting vegetables, and to turn in the 

 whole of the manure intended to be ap- 

 plied with the bottom spit, so as to bury 

 it ten or twelve inches within the ground. 

 Salt is a beneficial application to this crop ; 

 one reason for which undoubtedly is, the 

 beet being a native of the sea-shore. 



Time and mode of solving. Sow from 

 the close of February until the begin- 

 ning of April ; it being borne in mind 

 that the seed must not be inserted until 

 the severe frosts are over, which inevit- 

 ably destroy the seedlings when young. 

 The best time for inserting the main 

 crop of red beet-root for winter supply 

 is early in April. The Brazilian and 

 thick-leaved beets may be sown at the 

 same time for supply in summer; and at 

 the beginning of July or August, a suc- 

 cessional crop of these may be sown for 

 supply in the winter and following 

 spring. 



The seed is best sown in drills a foot 

 asunder, and an inch deep; or by dibble 

 at the same distance each way and at a 

 similar depth, two or three seeds being 

 put in each hole. The Brazil beet re- 

 quires eighteen inches space. 



During the early stages of growth, the 

 beds, which for the convenience of cul- 

 tivation should not be more than four 

 feet wide, must be looked over occa- 

 sionally, and the largest of the weeds 

 cleared by hand. In the course of May, 

 according to the advanced state of 

 growth, the plants must be cleared 

 thoroughly of weeds, both by hand and 

 small hoeing ; the red beet thinned to 

 ten or twelve inches apart, and the white 

 to eight or ten. The plants of this last 

 variety which are removed, may be trans- 

 planted into rows at a similar distance. 

 Moist weather is to be preferred for per- 

 forming this ; otherwise the plants must 

 be watered occasionally until they have 

 taken root. They must be frequently 

 hoed, and kept clear of weeds throughout 

 the summer. 



It is a great improvement to earth up 

 the stalks of the white beet in the same 

 manner as celery, when they are intended 



