Some farmers, eager for the last penny, sold their beet tops to Jim Lloyd as forage for his Herefords, but Brumbaugh would not consider this.

It is also a host for other weeds such as beet curly top, and for viruses such as beet ring spot and powdery mildew.

Auerbach threw himself flat amid dark green beet tops.

A big burly blond man in overalls was forking beet tops into a manger for his cows.

In the kitchen, pots and pans were strewn at random among a litter of whelks, leeks, cabbage leaves, potatoes and beet tops.

Scrub beets and cut the beet tops to within an inch of bulbs.

He had taken this once-barren land and made a garden of it, plowing back year after year the beet tops which helped keep it strong.

Served on Thursdays during Lent, its green and gorgeous with mustards, beet tops, spinach, kale, collards and Lord knows what else.

But never scoff at beet tops; they are nutritious.

Possibility of discovery avoided: gone are the days when parents and children were encouraged to be adventurers, to taste the raw clam, steamed mussel, braised beet tops or even a voluptuous summer tomato.