102 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



BEET-ROOT. 



Beta vulgaris, L. Chenopodiacecs, 



French, Betterave, Bette, Racine d'abondance. German, Salat-Rube. Dutch and 

 Flemish, BetworteL Danish, Rodbede. Italian, Barbabietola. Spanish, Remo- 

 lacha. Portuguese, Beterraba. 



Native of Europe. — Biennial. — A plant which, in the first year 

 of its growth, forms a more or less long, thick, and fleshy root, and 

 runs to seed in the second year. The fruiting stem is about 4 ft. 

 high, and as the calyx of the flower continues to grow after the 

 flower has faded, and completely covers the seed, it becomes corky 

 in substance and appearance, and forms what is commonly called 

 Beet-seed, but which is really a fruit, nearly as large as a pea, and 

 almost always containing several seeds. The true seeds are very 

 small, kidney-shaped, brown, and with an exceedingly thin skin. 

 They retain their germinating power for six years or more. 



It is not exactly known when the Beet-root was first introduced 

 into cultivation. The ancients were acquainted with the plant, 

 but we have no account from which we can be certain that they 

 cultivated it. Olivier de Serres mentions it as having been intro- 

 duced into France from Italy not long before the time at which he 

 wrote. 



Culture. — Beet is sown, where the crop is to grow, in the 

 open air, as soon as the spring frosts are over, and best in drills, for 

 greater convenience in hoeing ; and the young plants are thinned 

 out, with a greater or less space between them according to the 

 size of the variety grown. They prefer a deep, rich, well-manured, 

 and well-tilled soil. It is a good plan to dig in the manure in the 

 autumn, as fresh strawy manure is apt to cause the roots to become 

 forked. A few waterings in dry weather will be the only additional 

 attention required by the growing plants, the roots of which come 

 to maturity from July to the end of autumn, according to the time 

 at which sowings were made. 



A deep sandy loam, trenched to 

 a depth of at least 30 in., suits it 

 better than any other kind of soil, 

 and if poor, it should have been well 

 manured for the previous vegetable 

 crop. In such soil, the evenest and 

 cleanest roots are produced ; but Beet 

 will also succeed on calcareous soils, 

 if of sufficient depth. Heavy or stiff 

 loams intended for its growth should 

 be thrown up into ridges before 

 winter sets in, so as to get well pul- 

 verised, and, if very heavy, a light 



dressing of coal ashes worked into 

 them would prove advantageous, 

 and materially assist in producing 

 " clean " roots. Stable manure 

 should not be added to the soil 

 unless it is trenched deeply, when it 

 may be placed quite at the bottom 

 of the trench ; if otherwise, as soon 

 as the roots reach it they become 

 forked, instead of making straight 

 and well-shaped roots; therefore, if 

 the soil be so poor as to require 

 manure, a sprinkling of guano or 



