VEGETABLES BEET. 109 



Turnip Beet, in being rather flatter, freer from roots, and 

 what is of maiu importance, shorter in top ; it is not quite 

 so early as the Bassano, but being of richer color, it at 

 once supplants it in market, soon as it comes in, which is 

 usually in three or four days after that variety. 



Bassano. The earliest of all known varieties ; outside 

 color light red ; flesh white, veined with pink. Its earli- 

 ness is its only merit, as it is coarser than 

 the deep colored varieties. The propor- 

 tionate quantity sown for market pur- 

 poses, should not be more than one-sixth 

 of the preceding. 



Pine Apple. An excellent variety of 

 rich deep crimson color, pine apple shap- 

 ed, and nearly equal in earliness to 

 the Short Top Round. 



Long Smooth Bloo.d. A great im- 

 provement on the Common Blood Beet, 

 being less strong and freer from root- 

 lets, besides being a week earlier. It 

 is now grown here to the entire ex- 

 clusion of the other. The market de- 

 Fig. 30. PINE AP- mancl, however, for early crop, requires 

 FLE BEET, twice the quantity of Round to Long; 

 for late sales of barreled roots, exactly the reverse. 



Swiss Chard. Is a distinct species from the Beet grown 

 for its roots, known to botanists as Seta cicla. It is cul- 

 tivated solely for its leaves. The mid-rib of leaf is stewed 

 as Asparagus, the other portions of the leaf being used as 

 Spinach. The outer leaves are pulled off" as in gathering 

 Rhubarb. It is largely grown in France and Switzerland. 



