io8 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



more numerous leaves, which are generally curved in the shape 

 of a sickle, the top forming a very elegant rounded nosegay, 

 which at first might be mistaken for the foliage of a Dracaena 

 or a Croton. While thus ornamental, it is not without merit as 

 a vegetable. 



Covent Garden Red Beet. — A very handsome variety, 

 thicker and smoother than the preceding sorts. The root is 

 long ovoid rather than spindle-shaped, smooth and entirely 

 underground ; the flesh a deep blood-red, the foliage rather 

 light, tinged purple turning to very dark brown in the 

 autumn. 



The varieties of the Covent Garden Beet are Dewars Dwarf 



Dell's Dark Crimion Dwarf Beet, Dracaena-leaved Beet. 



Red^ Drumniond's Nonsuch, and Ferry s Half-loJig and Half -long 

 Blood Beet, though perhaps a shade shorter ; but the difference is 

 so trifling as to be negligible. 



Black Queen Beet. — In some respects this new variety re- 

 sembles the Pear-shaped Strasbourg Beet, with smaller, compacter 

 leaves, more proportionate to the size of the root. The root is 

 conical in shape, both above and below ground, but more tapering 

 at the base than the Strasbourg. The flesh is almost black ; the 

 leaves are also deep coloured. They are of fair size, slightly 

 'crimped, short and almost round, and at no time absolutely green, 

 which is seldom the case with black-rooted Beets, even such varieties 

 as have the darkest leaves in the autumn. The Black Queen Beet 



