136 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Apr. 



sugar. It is seldom cultivated in the gardens. In dry seasons, 

 beets are liable to be destroyed by the turnip-fly ; it is there- 

 fore advisable to sow a small bed or two in different parts of 

 the garden, partially shaded. If the general crop fail, then it 

 may be made good by transplanting those from the seed-beds. 

 This should, however, be done carefully, as the roots are 

 liable to be destroyed in taking up. The mangel-wurzel we 

 would particularly recommend to the attention of cottagers ; it 

 will grow in almost any situation, and if reared on a small 

 seed-bed will be fit to transplant on the same ground that has 

 been occupied by early potatoes, peas, or such like crops. It 

 will be extremely useful to those who keep a cow, giving to 

 the animal three or four roots twice a day, according to their 

 size ; some pigs are remarkably fond of it, and when boiled 

 few will refuse to eat it. 



The seeds of the true red beet are difficult to procure ; when 

 therefore a gardener succeeds in obtaining a few good roots, he 

 should be careful to propagate it by seed. In doing so, let it 

 be planted remote from all other beets, to guard against their 

 being impregnated with any other sort. 



SOWING CAPSICUMS. 



Capsicums are used either for pickling or preserving, and 

 may be sown in any kind of forcing-house, or in a hot-bed, in 

 a pot or box filled with fine light mould. Having attained to 

 the height of about two inches, it will be proper to plant them 

 in small pots, and afterwards to repot them, and place them in 

 a forcing-house ; they may then be planted out in June in a 

 warm sheltered situation. They may also be planted at this 

 time in the border of any kind of forcing-house, where they 

 are not much shaded, and have ample room to grow ; the cul- 

 ture of them is simple, according to either of these methods. 

 They require a light earth, but not excessively rich, and to be 

 pretty freely supplied with water ; or they may be sown in the 

 open air, where, in favorable situations, they will come to ma- 

 tui'ity. 



