BEET, a biennial vegetable, producing, like the carrot, a thick, fleshy tap-root during the first year and a leafy flowering stem in the following season. It is a cultivated form of the plant Beta vulgaris (family Chenopodiaceae, q.v.), which grows wild on the coasts of Europe, North Africa and Asia as far as India. The small, green flowers are borne in clusters. A considerable number of varieties are cultivated for use on account of their large fleshy roots, under the names of mangel-wurzel or mangold, field beet and garden-beet. The cultivation of beet in relation to the production of sugar, for which purpose certain varieties of beet stand next in importance to the sugar cane, is dealt with under SUGAR. The garden-beet has been cultivated from very remote times as a salad plant, and for general use as a table vegetable. It has swollen carrot-shaped or turnip-like roots, the "flesh" of which is deep red but with light coloured zones. It is boiled, then cut into slices and eaten hot or cold ; and it is also prepared as a pickle, as well as in various other forms. Beet is in much more common use on the continent of Europe as a culinary vegetable than in Great Britain, where it has, however, been cultivated for upwards of two centuries. The white beet, Beta vulgaris var. Cicla, is cultivated for the leaves, which are used as spinach. The midribs and stalks of the leaves are also stewed and eaten as sea-kale, under the name of Swiss chard (see CHARD).
The beet prospers in a deep, rich, well prepared soil. If manure is required, it should be deposited at the bottom of the trench in preparing the ground. The seeds should be sown in drills 15in. apart, in April or early in May, and the plants are afterwards to be thinned to about Bin. apart in the lines, but not more, as moderate-sized roots are preferable ; in the United States they are sown 3 to 4in. apart. The plants should grow on till the end of October or later, but must be taken up before the frost can injure them. The roots must not be bruised and the leaves must be twisted off—not closely cut, as they are then liable to bleed. In the north the crop may be wholly taken up in autumn, and stored in a pit or cellar, beyond reach of frost. If it is desired to have fresh roots early, the seeds should be sown at the end of February or beginning of March; and if a succession is required, a few more may be sown by the end of March. (X.) Production of the Sugar-beet.—Beetroot, as it is commonly called, is largely grown as a vegetable, but commercially the sugar beet is much the most important variety. This has been specialized by developing its sugar-content and is extensively cultivated for sugar production. Except in the United States, it is little culti vated elsewhere than in Europe. Before the War the production of beet sugar was almost as great as that of cane sugar, but it has been much reduced while that of the sugar-cane has increased and is now about twice as great. The production of beet sugar in the leading beet growing countries of the world is shown below:— In the United States the chief growing sugar-beet States were Colorado, Nebraska, Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Michigan in the order named. In 1926 7,223,00o short tons of beets valued at $54,964,00o were produced on 745,00o ac. planted to the crop. In 1927 the production was 7,734,00o short tons on 7S4,000 acres.
For many years the introduction of sugar-beet cultivation in British agriculture has been advocated, and exhaustive experiments have proved that there is no natural difficulty in growing crops equal in every respect to those grown on the continent of Europe. The obstacles were the reluctance of farmers to grow the crop unless they were sure of a market, and the equal reluctance of capitalists to establish sugar factories unless they could be assured of a constant and sufficient supply of the raw material. In these circumstances the Government was appealed to for assistance. The British Sugar (Subsidy) Act was passed in 1925. This pro vided for the payment from the exchequer of a subsidy of 19s. 6d. per cwt. of home-grown sugar, continuing on this basis for four years, being then reduced to 13s. for three years, and to 6s. 6d. for another three, after which it would cease. In 1925 a preference was also given to home-produced sugar in the excise duties.
Under this stimulus sugar factories were rapidly erected in various districts and the acreage of sugar-beet increased. The following statement shows the development in each season : It was hoped that the introduction of sugar-beet into British agriculture would not only be profitable to the growers but would also increase, or at least maintain, the area of arable land and pro vide more employment on the land. The results so far have been somewhat disappointing in view of the expenditure of public money involved. The decline of the arable area has not been checked, though there has been some increase in employment.