KITCHEN-GARDEN VEGETABLES. 
about four fair-sized oblong Beans. An excellent and 
most prolific variety, coming into use two days after the 
Longpod. : 
Windsor (Broad Windsor).—Stems 3 to 4 feet high, 
branched, robust; pods 4 to 6 inches long, 14 inch broad 
at the lower end, much curved, containing two or three 
very large roundish flattened Beans. An excellent sort, 
the best for a summer crop. Green Windsor has the habit 
of the Windsor, from which it is distinguished by the 
Beans being of a green colour. 
Beet-root (Beta vulgaris).—A hardy biennial, 
native of the sea-coast of the south of Europe. 
“Tts cultivation does not date from more than 
three or four centuries before the Christian era. 
The red and white roots were known to the 
ancients, but the number of varieties has greatly 
increased in modern times, especially since the 
Beet-root has been cultivated on a large scale 
for the food of cattle and for the production 
of sugar. It is one of the plants most easily 
improved by selection, as the experiments of 
Vilmorin have proved” (Decandolle). Accord- 
ing to Mr. Barr’s observations the purple-fleshed 
sorts are the richest in flavour, the crimson- 
fleshed sorts being also good, and those with 
scarlet flesh contain the least saccharine. 
Beet-root requires an exposed situation, for, 
however good the soil may be, it will not thrive 
if shaded by trees. A tolerably rich open loam, 
or a sandy loam, produces the cleanest. roots 
and the best crops. Ground that has been 
manured for a previous crop will not require 
to be again manured for Beet-root. It should, 
however, be trenched in winter two spades 
deep, throwing the soil in ridges in order to 
expose it to the action of the weather. Ad- 
vantage should be taken of dry weather to level 
down the ridges, and dig the whole regularly 
over just before sowing. 
If manure is necessary, it should be applied 
in trenching, putting it down a foot or so below 
the surface, an early contact with solid manure 
causing the top roots to fork badly. Salt has 
a decided effect in promoting the growth of 
Beet; but it should only be applied in moderate 
quantities, as both it and ammoniacal manures, 
when too liberally given, have the effect of in- 
creasing the bulk of the produce at the expense 
of its quality. 
In most localities the main crop may be sown 
about the third week of April. The precise 
time, however, depends on the soil and situation. 
‘In some soils the plants are apt to run to seed 
in the same season; the sowing should therefore 
be made later than where the plants are not 
subject to run. The market- gardeners near 
VoL II. 
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405 
London sow their Beet in the first week of May; 
for if sown as early as some recommend, the 
roots become too coarse, and are not so tender 
as those sown later. On the other hand, it may 
be sown too late to acquire its proper size and 
flavour. In gardens where early crops must be 
raised, it will be advisable to sow some early kind, 
notably the blood-red form of Turnip-rooted, at 
the end of February, or in the first week of 
March; or at this time plants for transplanting 
may be raised in a frame, where the heat is 
very slight. For succession, a few more rows, 
according to the demand, may be sown at the 
end of March. 
The seeds should be steeped in water previous 
to sowing, and sown whilst still damp, in drills 
14 inch deep; these for the smaller kinds should 
be about 12 inches apart; and the plants should 
be thinned out to 8 inches apart in the row. 
The large sorts may have 15 inches between the 
rows, but still not more than 8 inches from plant 
to plant in the row. 
“When the plants are 2 inches high, they 
should be thinned; and when they have made 
six leaves, again thinned to the proper distance. 
At this age the thinnings may be used for 
fillmg up any blanks in the rows. Great care 
should be taken not to break the roots in 
removal, and the principal one should be in- 
inserted at full length, and without doubling. 
This should be done in cloudy weather, and 
when the ground is moist but not wet. The 
ground should be frequently stirred during the 
summer, and watered when necessary. 
The crop will continue to grow till checked 
by frost or cold weather. Part of it should be 
taken up not later than the beginning of No- 
vember. To do this, a trench must be opened 
along the first row to be taken up, to the full 
depth of the roots; from these the earth should 
be carefully removed, in order not to break the 
fibres, for loss of colour will result from their 
being broken. The tops should be trimmed 
before the roots are stored. This is done by 
laying them slanting among moderately dry 
soil, so that the herbaceous part only of the 
crown may be exposed. Some being taken up 
in case of severe frost, means should be adopted 
to protect those remaining in the open ground, 
which have a much fresher flavour than those 
which are housed. Beet that has been frozen is 
practically spoilt. If, therefore, any are left in 
the open after the middle of November, they 
ought to be well banked over with fresh leaves 
or litter, upon which a layer of soil should be 
placed to effectually protect the roots. 
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