Betterave, Fr. Rothe Ruhr, Ger. Acelgas, Span. Barba Biettola, Ital. "The Red Beet is a native of the sea-coast of the south of Europe. It was cultivated in England in 1656, and then called beet rave, (or beet-radish,) from the French name, betterave.

"The long red or blood, is generally used for the winter supply, and the extra early, and early turnip-rooted, for the summer. The extra early turnip-rooted has been lately introduced from Italy - its growth is astonishingly rapid; it should always be planted for the first crop, and the old turnip-rooted to succeed.

"There are several other kinds cultivated, but the foregoing are the best known; and being both early and late, are beyond question amply sufficient.

"White Beet. This is a hardy biennial plant, with leaves larger than the red beet, and very thick and succulent. It is a native of the sea coasts of Spain and Portugal. "It is cultivated in gardens entirely for the leaves, which are boiled as spinnage, or put in soups. Those of the great white, or sweet beet, are esteemed for the mid ribs and stalks, which are separated from the lamina of the leaf, and stewed and eaten as asparagus, under the name of chard." The great white, or Swiss chard, has been introduced into this country within a few years; those who have cultivated it give it a high character, and consider it fully equal to asparagus.

"The Mangold Wurtzel is principally grown for stock. It is, however, very early, rapid in its growth, and tolerably good for table use when young and tender. It might, therefore, be an object with such as are particularly fond of beets, to sow a small quantity of this species for an early crop. As food for stock, especially milch cows, it is scarcely surpassed, and the product is enormous.

Silesian Or Sugar

The Sugar Beet has had great popularity as food for stock, and though not now as generally grown by our farmers as formerly, has many advocates who claim for it great merit, and attribute the failure of others to injudicious feeding. They argue that roots, during cold weather, should only be given in moderate quantities, and always with a little bran or meal; - that the cows should be fed in comfortable quarters. Such treatment, it is contended, will produce satisfactory results, which could hardly be expected from roots frequently given in a frozen state, the animal exposed to the cold, and without anything to counteract the scouring tendency of the roots.

"All Beets do best when planted in rows, as they then admit of hoeing and more thorough cleaning. The rows twelve or fourteen inches apart, the plants in the rows not nearer than four inches. It is advisable to sow the seed thicker than that, and when the plants are two inches high, thin them to the proper distance.

"The seed is usually sown in a shallow drill, drawn by the hoe, and covered to the depth of an inch. For the early crops plant early in spring, on a warm sheltered border. The commencement of summer is sufficiently early to sow those intended for the winter supply. Should the weather be dry when about to sow at that season, pour scalding water on the seed, and let them soak 24 to 48 hours, and roll in the seed.

"The Beet requires rich ground, and like all tap-rooted plants, delights in a deep loose soil. Throughout their growth they demand occasional hoeing between the rows, and freedom from weeds.

"In farm culture, sow in drills three feet apart, so as to admit the horse-hoe - deep tillage produces its beneficial effects on this crop as on most others.

"To save them during the winter, they should be placed in the cellar, against the wall, in tiers, tops outward, with alternate layers of sand or earth. Or in hills in the garden, with a covering of earth two to three feet thick; the aperture at which they are taken out as required, being carefully closed with straw; for, should hard frost reach them, they will decay." - Rural Reg.