STRUCTURE 



451 



beets for sugar manufacture, though occasionally fed to stock, while 

 mangel-wurzels are grown only for stock feed. 



Root, Stem, and Crown. The relation between root, stem, and 

 the crown of leaves is most clearly understood by comparing a cab- 

 bage, kohl-rabi, and turnip as all belonging to the same family. In 

 root crops the enlarged part is part root and part stem, the propor- 

 tion of each varying in different varieties. The two parts can not be 

 clearly distinguished, but it is probable that in the case of types 

 deep set in the soil the enlarged portion is mostly true root, while 

 in the case of those that grow 

 largely above ground a higher 

 proportion is enlarged stem. 



Shape of Mangels. The 

 shape of mangels is designated 

 as long (Fig. 193), half long, 

 tankard, oval, or globe. The 

 long and tankard shapes are 

 most popular. These types usu- 

 ally stand about one-half out 

 of ground, and are easy to har- 

 vest and handle. 



A good beet is not quite 

 round in cross-section, but has 

 a shallow depression on two 

 sides. This depression is called 

 a dimple. Fine fibrous roots 



FIG. 192. Table beet, round form. 



should be limited to this depression. There should be no tendency 

 for the root to divide at the tip or to have large roots coming out at 

 other points. These points are especially important in sugar beets, 

 as such beets are apt to be coarse, lower in sugar, and also difficult 

 to clean. 



Structure. The beet is usually made up of five to seven alternate 

 layers of tissue differing in density. In table beets all the tissue is a 

 deep red. In mangels, the color is in the softer rings of tissue, while 

 sugar beets are white throughout. The sugar content of beets is not 

 uniform throughout, but they are poorest in the center, the sugar 



