WINTER GREEN'S. 



81 



handsome Beet, of good shape and colour. Some of the most 

 esteemed Beets at the present time are strains associated with the 

 names of various well-known seedsmen. I have grown many of these, 

 and can speak highly of the following : — Cannells' Best of All, Carters' 

 Perfection, Dobbies' Exhibition, Suttons' Blood Bed, and Webb's 

 Masterpiece. Any of these might be chosen if one only was wanted. 

 I have never had a better variety in my garden than Best of All. 



It is pleasant to see the Turnip or globe-shaped Beets gaining 

 favour. They are early, reliable, and of excellent quality. The 

 Egyptian and Suttons' Globe are of proved worth. 



Beetroot seed is somewhat peculiar. What we call a seed is really 

 something more. It is a case containing more than one growing 

 germ, which explains the surprise of a gentleman who heard of 100 

 "seeds " being sown, and 120 plants resulting ! 



For soil, management, manuring, sowing tables, enemies, and 

 storing, see previous articles. 



Cbapter 12. — Borecole, Broccoli, Brussels 

 Sprouts, and Savops, collectiuelp knou)n 

 as Winter 6reens* 



Nothing is more interesting than to speculate on the stages by 

 which garden vegetables of choice strains have been developed. 

 Look at the original Brassica oleracea, and marvel at the processes by 

 which have been evolved the garden Cabbage, the Brussels Sprouts, 

 the Cauliflower and the Savoy. The vegetables named are modest 

 and homely enough, but there is a fascinating study wrapped up in 

 their leaves and flowers. 



A person of receptive and inquiring mind can never sow a patch of 

 Sprouts without a sense of gratitude to the patient and far-seeimg 

 men who devoted themselves to the task of making apparently 

 worthless plants valuable. It was a long, slow business, and the 

 work is yet unfinished. It may be true that the best types which we 

 have now have reached a point at which it is difficult to eflect any 

 improvement, but it must be remembered that they have to be main- 

 tained. This is almost as difficult as developing them. All highly 

 bred plants, whether they be Cabbages or Carnations, have a strong 

 tendency to degenerate, and unless closely and persistently watched 

 the stocks deteriorate with alarming rapidity. 



The four vegetables named at the head of this chapter are 

 examples, and exceedingly valuable examples, of what has been 

 done. We realise their importance only in those seasons when 

 F 



