( 3 ) 



although by its external appearance, and its 

 feed, it very much refembles the beet-root; 

 it is fuperior to it in every refpec% and ap- 

 pears to. form a diftinft fpecies.* Its culture 

 B .1 is 



* I fhall here urge fome reafons, which appear to 

 amount to certain proof, that the Root of Scarcity- 

 ought riot to be confounded with the red beet root, nor 

 with any kind of beets. If they do not ftrip off the 

 leaves of the Root of Scarcity, it does not grow to any 

 great fize, or at leaft never arrives to the aftonifliing 

 bulk in which we fee it otherwife appear. If, on the 

 contrary, they often ftrip oiF the leaves of the red beet, 

 it hardly thrives any more, it is enervated, its vegeta- 

 tion becomes languishing, and its root hardens ; and 

 befides, it fcarcely ever happens, that the leaves of 

 the red beet have the fame tafte with thofe of the Root 

 of Scarcity, or grow with the fame rapidity, or attain 

 to the fame length. 



As to the white beet, this cannot be compared with 

 the Root of Scarcity ; its leaves are curled, and have a 

 very earthy tafte ; its root is fmall, ill Ihaped, forked, 

 hard as a horn, and ufelefs. 



If the Root of Scarcity were the fame as the red beet, 

 would the farmer fow fo diftinclly both the one and the 

 other ? Thefe two roots are equally known and culti- 

 vated in all the provinces of Germany ; but the pro- 

 duce 



