THE BEET. 5 



It is an early French variety, of fine flavor, excellent for 

 summer use, and, if sown as late as the second week in 

 June, equally valuable for the table during winter. Not 

 recommended for field culture. 



Bulb flattened ; six or seven inches in diame- Bassano. 

 ter by three or four inches in depth ; not very BASSANO. 

 regular or symmetrical, but often somewhat EXTBAEAELT < 

 ribbed, and terminating in a small, 

 slender tap-root. The skin is of fine 

 texture ; brown above ground ; below 

 the surface, clear rose-red. Flesh 

 white, circled or zoned with bright 

 pink ; not close-grained, but sugary 

 and well-flavored. The leaves are nu- 

 merous, erect, of a lively green color, 

 forming many separate groups or tufts, 

 covering the entire top, or crown of 

 the root. 



It is an Italian variety, and gener- 

 ally considered the earliest of garden- 



J f Bassano Beet. 



beets, being from seven to ten days 

 earlier than the Early Blood Turnip-rooted. The flesh, 

 although much coarser than that of many other sorts, is 

 tender, sweet, and of good quality. Roots from early 

 sowings are, however, not suited for winter use ; as, when 

 overgrown, they become too tough, coarse, and fibrous for 

 table use. To have them in perfection during winter, the 

 seed should not be sown till near the close of June. 



In dry, poor soil, it succeeds much better than the Early 

 Blood Turnip-rooted. 



A sub-variety of the Long Red Mangel-wurzel, Cow-horn 

 growing mostly above ground. Root two feet wurzeL 

 and a half in length, and nearly three inches in BBI B?M* 

 diameter at its broadest part ; often grooved or furrowed 



