132 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
dition to the information furnished by’similar works, will 
give an exact description of the plant, the color of the 
flower, its tendency to bloom early or late, its forcing 
qualities, and precise details of the origin of each variety. 
A novel feature, showing how thoroughly the work is to 
be done, is in the fact that biographical sketches of the 
persons in whose honor the roses have been named are to 
be given, and the motives which led rosarians to bestow 
other names than those of individuals upon their flowers. 
A list of all known roses, about 6,000, will be described. 
Such a work cannot fail to meet a warm welcome on its 
appearance. f. Lance. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
The Beet. 
T HE beet is generally considered to be one of the prin¬ 
cipal and most desirable of our garden vegetables, 
and is perhaps the most valued when grown as an early 
crop ; for the young plants can be prepared for the table 
in a manner similar to spinach, as soon as they reach a 
few inches in height, and this use can be continued until 
the roots are as large as radishes ; but after this the roots 
only should be used. The beet does best in a light loamy 
soil, although any other will answer almost as well if 
properly prepared, but for the earliest crop one should 
choose the warmest and most sheltered situation at 
command. 
The ground should be prepared by giving it a good 
dressing of well decayed stable manure, and this should 
be thoroughly and deeply incorporated with the soil, and 
then a thorough harrowing given, until the ground is as 
finely pulverized as possible. On a limited scale all of 
this preparatory work can be performed by means of the 
fork and rake. 
All preparatory work should be done as early in the 
season as possible. The seed can be sown in drills about 
two inches in depth, the rows being from twelve to fifteen 
inches apart. As soon as the plants are well up and large 
enough to use for greens they should be gradually thinned 
out until they stand from four to six inches apart. But 
where the roots only are desired for use, a portion should 
be well thinned out as soon as they are large enough to- 
handle. Keeping the crop well hoed and free from weeds 
at all times will prevent the plants from becoming checked 
in growth, and thus prevent the roots from becoming tough- 
and inferior in quality. In order to maintain a succession 
of tender roots, several successive sowings are necessary, 
the first being made about the first week in April and 
after this every three weeks until the first of July. 
The best varieties for amateur cultivators are the Egyp¬ 
tian Turnip, Blood Turnip and Bassano, the Egyptian being 
the earliest. The roots of this variety are of a deep crim¬ 
son color, and it has a very small top. The Bassano is 
quite a favorite with many on account of its roots being 
so tender and juicy ; in color it is white and rose. The 
tops of this variety are superior to all others for greens. 
The Blood Turnip is too well known to require a de¬ 
scription, and is some ten or twelve days later than the 
Bassano. Chas. E. Parnell. 
W HEN Mrs. Deming bought a pretty cottage in the 
quiet academical village of St. Botolph’s, and estab¬ 
lished herself there with her only child, Kitty, it was with 
the avowed purpose of educating that young lady, who 
was then in her sixteenth year. But when they were well 
settled in their new home and Kitty had entered the 
Academy, the loneliness of the situation became apparent. 
Mrs. Deming in her husband’s lifetime had been accus¬ 
tomed to many household cares and to the diversions and 
excitements of city life. Kitty was merry, wide-awake, 
and mischievous. A household of two furnished little 
vent for the energies of either; but in a small village 
whose only centre of business is an academy, one’s house¬ 
hold can only be increased by taking lodgers or boarders. 
So Mrs. Deming received into her family two students, to 
whom, besides mere board and lodging, she gave all the 
privileges of a genuine home. 
Of these students one was a Southerner, Ralph Morti¬ 
mer by name. He had dark hair and eyes, a dark mus¬ 
tache, and a sallow complexion; he was not handsome, 
but had a distinguished look which gained for him a 
certain prestige among the young ladies. The Northern 
