Twenty-three varieties of beets were described by Goff (Sixth Report of the New York Station, pp. 120-132). They are grouped under four general classes; namely, root oblate or top-shaped, root oval, root half-long and root long-conical. Each of these classes is divided into subclasses based on color—red or yellow. The four types of beets which have been developed from Beta vulgaris are common garden beet, sugar beet, mangel or mangel-wurzel, and Swiss chard, which last is used for greens. The following varieties of garden beets are the most important:

Crosby Egyptian

Crosby Egyptian, a very early and valuable blood turnip variety; extensively grown.

Eclipse

Eclipse, extra early, round and smooth; top small; flesh intense red and high in quality; popular for home use and market.

Early Model

Early Model, a very early round beet of high quality.

Egyptian

Various strains or selections of this variety are offered by seedsmen. It is an early, turnip-shaped beet and largely planted.

Edmond Blood Turnip

Edmond Blood Turnip, a round beet, desirable to follow the very early varieties.

Bastian Blood Turnip

Bastian Blood Turnip, a turnip-shaped beet, valued for early planting.

Bastian Half-Long Blood

Bastian Half-Long Blood, light in color and excellent in quality; a medium early variety.

Yellow Turnip

Yellow Turnip, an early, yellow, sweet-fleshed variety.

Long Dark Red

Long Dark Red, a long-rooted late variety valued by some people for winter use.