184 



GARDENING FOB THE SOUTH. 



The Swiss Chard, or White Beet, Beta Cicla, is also 

 called the Sea Kale Beet. There are two varieties, the white 

 and the green, which receive their names from the color 



of the foot-stalks of 

 the leaves. Either of 

 these is good. The 

 plant very much re- 

 sembles the common 

 beet, but the leaves 

 and their stalks are 

 much larger, thicker, 

 more tender and suc- 

 culent, and less capa- 

 ble of resisting frost. 

 The root of this 

 plant is small, coarse, 

 and of no value : only 

 the leaves and their 

 stalks are employed, 

 especially the latter, 

 which are cooked and 

 eaten as asparagus. 



The culture is ex- 

 actly the same as the 

 common beet, except 

 the plants should be 

 twelve or more inches 

 apart. The soil may 

 be richer and not so 

 deep, and the plants 



Fig. 62. SWISS CHAKD. 



copious watering, especially with 

 winter use, the leaves may be 



are more benefited by 

 liquid manure. For 

 covered with litter 

 and afford blanched leaf stalks all winter. If the soil 

 be moist and kept mellow and free from weeds, it will yield 

 bountifully. Salt is a beneficial manure for this crop, ap- 



