BEET. v. 
25 
sheltered situation, lay a stratum of sand two incnes thick, and .a 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 
oft 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, when wanted either for sale or use. 
“ Some people lay straw, or hay, between the layers of roots, and imme¬ 
diately on the top of them; this I do not approve of, as the straw f nay 
will become damp and mouldy, and very often occasion the roots to rot, 
while the sand would, preserve them sweet 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 Os 
garden heaps. 
BENE PLANT. 
Sesamum. 
This was introduced into the Southern States by the negroes from Africa. 
It abounds in many parts of Africa. Soninni and Brown, travelers in 
Egypt, say it is much cultivated there for the purpose of feeding horses, and 
for culinary purposes. The negroes in Georgia boil a handful of the seeds 
with their allowance of Indian corn. Probably no plant yields a larger pro¬ 
portion of oil, which Dr. Cooper of Philadelphia has pronounced equal to the 
finest oils. But it is worthy of cultivation in the Northern States, princi¬ 
pally, as a medicinal plant. A gentleman in Virginia has given Messrs. 
Thorburn & Son the following account of its virtues:—“ It requires to be 
sown early in April, at a distance of about one foot apart. A few r leaves of 
the plant, when green, plunged a few times in a tumbler of water, make it 
like a thin jelly, without taste or color, which children^ afflicted with the 
summer complaint will drink freely, and it is said to be the best remedy 
ever discovered. It has been supposed, that (under Providence) the lives of 
thiee hundred children were saved by it last summer in Baltimore, and I 
know the efficacy of it by experience in my own family P This plant will 
