VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 



289 



The culture is exactly 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 

 are more benefited by copious watering, especially with 

 liquid manure. For winter use, 

 the leaves may be covered with 

 litter. They will 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, applied 

 while preparing- the ground, as 

 it keeps it moist. It is singular 

 that a plant of so easy culture, 

 and yielding during the entire 

 season after May a supply of the 

 most delicate greens, has not 

 come into more general cultiva- 

 tion 



For Seed. — Select a few of the 

 finest-looking roots — those 

 smooth and well shaped. Plant 

 the different varieties as far 

 apart as possible; indeed, it is 

 better to save the seed of only 

 one kind the same year for fear 

 of intermixture and degeneracy. 

 Keep them free from weeds, and 

 tie the seed stalks to stakes to 

 support them. Gather and dry the seed as soon as ripe, 

 and put away in paper bags. Keep dry, and they will be 

 good for ten years. 



Use. — The young and tender tops of the common beet, 

 and the leaves and stalks of the chards, are boiled as suni- 



19 



Fig. 108— Swiss Chard. 



