I have made this year a small experiment of the probable advantage of raising the mangel Wurtzel of the germans in our part of the country—It is the Disette of the French—scarcity root of the English—Beta altissima of Botanists. Those I send you are not quite the largest I have—one with the leaves weighed 10¾ ℔s without—8 ℔s—I intend to report my experiment to the agricultural society with much exactness as to facts and calculation, & think I shall shew that few articles more valuable for stock &c can be raised among us—if you think it worth while, the largest four sent you, can be buried in a hole under a conical top like turnips, & preserved to bear seed next spring.1 they shou’d be carefully set far away from the common beet, as they wou’d most probably amalgamate with these—The smaller ones sent I shou’d be thankful if the ladies at Monticello, wou’d give a fair trial, as to their esculent qualities—they may require more boiling than the common beet, as they are of a stouter texture

I am with the greatest respect