248 HOME AND GARDEN 



its modest size, and the fine crimson of its polished 

 leaves that take wonderful reflections from blue sky. 

 The field Beets (Mangel) -share the functions of the 

 Cabbage and Turnip family as winter feed for cattle, 

 but like their garden relatives they have to be harvested 

 early, as they are rather tender. The other kitchen 

 garden plants that are related to Beet are the quick- 

 growing annual Spinach, and the more persistent 

 Orache, also the less often grown perennial Good- 

 King-Henry. The leaves of all these are used in the 

 same way; and there is another plant, the Spinach- 

 Beet, a kind with bold pale leaves that are cooked 

 as Spinach, but less good than the others. 



There are not many representatives of this family 

 in the pleasure garden. The greater number of them 

 have rather coarse leaves and loose spikes of greenish 

 flowers, but the tall annual Atriplex hortensis airo- 

 sanguinea is a fine thing in late summer and autumn, 

 the whole plant turning to a dull red-purple colour, 

 of good effect not only out of doors, but when branches 

 are cut for room decoration. But it should be re- 

 membered that it is unsuitable for use in any glass 

 vessels, as it dyes the water red. 



So many of the succulent plants that grow near 

 the sea are related to the Beet family that the next 

 plant that comes to mind is Purslane, an admirable 

 vegetable that is far too much neglected. It is a 

 near relative of the brilliant garden Portulaccas from 

 Brazil. It is used in soups, especially iti that excellent 



