HOCKINGS GARDEN MANUAL. 



27 



BEET. 



The varieties are known as Bed Beet and Silver 

 Beet. The former is grown for the roots, and much 

 esteemed by some persons as a vegetable ; but more 

 generally used sliced in salads, sometimes alone with 

 an acid dressing, and also pickled. Sugar is produced 

 from the latter ; it is also grown for its leaves, which 

 are used as spinach, and the stalks as seakale. Beet 

 requires a deep, rich, open soil, well manured. The 

 ground should be dug at least two spades deep, the 

 whole of the manure used being turned in with the 

 bottom spit, to cause the tap roots to descend, and pre- 

 vent forked or side roots. Sow for early winter crop 

 in February, and for summer crops in August and Sep- 

 tember, in drills two feet apart ; the seed should be 

 covered about an inch deep, and the plants thinned out 

 to twelve or eighteen inches apart in rows. A dres- 

 sing of salt dug in with the manure will be found 

 beneficial, and fine bone-dust or phosphatic manures 

 are highly valued for this crop. 



BROCOLI. 



White and Purple Cape, and Grange's Early 

 White, are the most suitable for our climate. For 

 cultivation see Cauliflower. Sowings may be made in 

 June, August, ^NTovember, and January for succession. 



BRUSSELS SPPwOCJTS. 



This plant rises up with a very long stem, which 

 has a spreading open head at the top. The large 

 leaves are broken down to facilitate the formation of the 

 little cabbages from all the joints up the stem. They 

 should be gathered when they have the appearance of 

 half-blown roses, leaving the top uncut. 



