362 



CHENOPODIACE^ 



The mangel first selected for improvement was a White 

 Silesian variety (Fig. 115, A), which may be considered as the 

 parent of all the chief varieties now grown. 



Sugar-beets are comparatively small, the best weighing about 

 I J to 2^ lbs., and of conical or elongated pear shape. Unlike the 

 ordinary mangels the sugar-beets have their thickened ' roots ' 

 entirely buried in the soil, those with large ' necks ' above 

 ground being less valuable in many ways and poorer in sugar. 



Fig. 115. — Chief forms of sugar-beet. 



A, White Silesian Beet or Mangel. 



B, Knauer's Imperial and Klein-Wanzlebener. 



C, Viimorin's Improved. 



The ' roots ' should not be ' fanged,' and in good varieties 

 the skin is white, and the flesh firm and white, with a large 

 number of close concentric rings of vascular bundles. Beets 

 with upright leaves and long petioles are always less rich in sugar 

 than those with leaves which lie close to the ground and have 

 shorter petioles. 



The chief forms are exhibited in the varieties mentioned 

 below : — 



Viimorin's Improved. — The ' root ' is conical in shape (Fig. 



