EXAMINATIOir OF THE BEET. 89 



that are regular.^ If this be owing to the greater 

 power of absorption or other cause, we are not prepared 



Fig. 19. 



to state ; but this type^ cannot be recommended, as the 

 washing and working would be most difficult. 



For many years it was argued that the shape de- 

 pended upon the variety of the seed. This evidently 

 has much to do with it, but is not general, as a given 

 seed planted in diflPerent soils will frequently yield 

 beets entirely different from those expected. This is 

 mainly due to the condition of the ground ; if compact 

 and not well worked, in all probability the resulting 

 roots will be forked, but if, on the contrary, the soil be 

 tilled as it should be the shape will then be, with pro- 

 per seed, most satisfactory, and correspond to the 



' See Chapter on " Leaves." 



' See "Variety of Beets, types Vilmorin." 



