''I be Kjtchen (jar den. 
^9 
tained fmall round fccdc : the rootc is very full of threds or firings. 
The red Elite is in all things like the white, but that his leaues and tufted heades arc 
exceeding red at the firft, and after turne more purplifh. 
TheVfeof Blites. 
Elites are :v fed as Arrach, cythcr boyled of it felfe or ftewed, which they 
call Loblolly, or among other herbes to bee put into the pot ; and yet fame 
doe vtterly refufeit, beatufeiu diuers it prouoketh cartings. It is altogether 
infipide Or without taftc, but yet by reafon of themoift flipperiequalitie 
it hath, ithelpethtoloofenthcbeUy. The vnfauorineflc whereof hath 
irt many Countries grpwne into a prouerbe, or by-word,to call dull, flow, 
orlazie perfons bythat name : They are accounted more hurtfull tothc 
ftojnacke, and fo to the head and eyes, then other herbes, and therefore 
they are the Idle vfed. 
*V< ■ ; ..or . ; ml '(laom-O-i a it 
Chap. XX. 
•Vet*. Beetes. 
T Here are many diuerfitics of Bectes,fome growing naturally in our own Coun- 
try, others brought from beyond Sea ; whereof fome are white, fomegreene, 
fome yellow, fome red : -the leaues of fomeareof vfc only, and the root not 
vfed .-others the roote is only vied, and not the leaues : and fome againe, both rootc 
andlcafe. Theancient Authors, as by their workesappeare, knew buttwoforts, the 
white and the blacke Beete, whereof the white is fufficiently known, and was of them 
termed SicuU, of the later Phy fitians Sick, becaule it was thought firft to be brought 
from Sicilie : the blacke abideth fome controuerfie ; fome thinking that our common 
greene Beete, bccaufe it is of a darkegreene colour, was ; that they called the blacke 
Beete ; others that out fmall red Beete, which is of a darke rod colour, was their black 
Beete, which in my opinion is the mote likely : But to come, to the matter in hand,and 
giueyou the deferiprions of them which are in vfe with vs, and leauc controuerfies to 
fucha workeas is fit forthem,wherein allfuch matters may be difeufledat large. 
The common white Beete hath many great leaues next the ground (in fome hot 
Countries growing to be three foote long, and very broade, in our Countrcy they are 
very large, but nothing ncerethat proportion) of a whitilb greene colour ; theftalke 
is great, ftrong, and ribbed or crcfted, bearing great ftore of leaues vpon it vp to the 
very toppealmoft : the flowers grow in very long tufts, fmall at the ends, and turning 
down their heads, which are fmall pale greenifh yellow burres,giuing cornered prick- 
ly feeder the roote is great, long and hard, when it hath giuenfeede, of novfeatall, 
but abideth a former winter with his leaues vpon if, as all other forts following doe. 
The common red Beet differeth not from the white Beete, but only that it is norfo 
great, and both the leaues and rootes are fomewhat red : the leaues bee in fome more 
ted then in others, which haue but red veines or ftrakes in them, in fomealfo of afrefla 
red, in others very darke red : the roote hereof is red, fpongy, and not vfed to bee 
eaten. 
The common greene Beete is alfo like vnto the white Beete, but of a darke greene 
colour. This hath beene found neere the ialt Marlhes by Rochcfter, in the foote- way 
going from the Lady Levcfons houfe thither, by a worthy, diligent and painefull ob- 
feruerand preferuer both of plants and all other natures varieties, often reraembred 
beforein thisworke,ca!Ied Iohn Tradefcante, who there finding it,gaue me the know- 
ledge thereof, and I haue vpon his report fet it here down in this manner : 
The Romane red Beete, called Bel a rtpofa, is both for leafe and roote the moft excel- 
lent Beete of all others : his rootes bee as great as the greateft Carrot, exceeding red 
both within and without, very fweete and good, fit to bee eaten : this Beete groweth 
higher then the laft red Beete, whofe rootes are not vfed to bee eaten : the leaues like- 
wife 
