50 



BEET. 



of their tops ; tops outwards ; the internal parts to be filled 

 with roots without leaves ; continue one layer over anoth- 

 er, until the heap is about six feet high, and about tv/o feet 

 broad at top, which may be covered with straw and earth ; 

 the ends of the heap should be covered in the same way ; 

 the leaves form an efficient covering against rain and frost. 



Mr. M^Mahon's mode of preserving beets, and other 

 roots, is as follows : — -"Previous to the commencement of i 

 severe frost, you should take up, with as little injury as possi- ■ 

 ble, the roots of your turnips, carrots, parsnips, beets, salsify, 

 scorzonera, Hamburg or large-rooted parsley, skirrets, Je- 

 rusalem artichokes, turnip-rooted celery, and a sufficiency 

 of horse-radish, for the winter consumption ; cut off their 

 tops, and expose the roots for a few hours, till sufficiently 

 dry. On the surface of a very dry spot of ground, in a 

 well sheltered situation, lay a stratum of sand two inches 

 thick, and on this a:' layer of roots of either sort, covering 

 them with another layer of sand, (the drier the better,) and 

 so continue layer about of sand and roots till all are laid 

 in, giving the whole, on every side, a roof-like slope ; then 

 cover this heap or ridge all over with about two inches of 

 sand, over which lay a good coat of drawn straw, up and 

 down, as if thatching a house, in order to carry off wet, 

 and prevent its entering the roots ; then dig a wide trench 

 round the heap, and cover the straw with the earth so dug 

 up, to a depth sufficient to preserve the roots effectually 

 from frost. An opening may be made on the south side of 

 this heap, and completely covered with bundles of straw, 

 so as to have access to the roots at all times, v/hen wanted 

 either for sale or use. 



" Some people lay straw, or hay, between the layers of 

 roots, and immediately on the top of them ; this I do not 

 approve of, as the straw or hay will become damp and 

 mouldy, and very often occasion the roots to rot, while the 

 sand would preserve them sv/eet and sound. 



All these roots may be preserved in like manner in a 

 cellar; but in such a place they are subject to vegetate and 

 become stringy earlier in spring. The only advantage of 

 this method is, that in the cellar they may be had when 

 wanted, more conveniently during winter, than out of the 

 field or garden heaps. 



ATo/^, A.11 the above roots will preserve better in sand 



