Geographical Distribution of the Genus Allium. 119 



indigenous plant of tbis country would also have been considered 

 as worthy by these men of signal and particular note. But, as 

 %r as I know, we have not a word on the subject. 



The onion, we are led to understand, has been from remote 

 ages a famed plant, and a highly prized pot-herb. It was culti 

 vated and held sacred by the Egyptians. The Roman satirist 

 ■exclaims, " Who knows not the superstitions of the crazy Egyp. 

 tian, that it is with him an impiety to hurt or bite the leek and 

 onion. Oh ! holy people, whose gardens give birth to these 

 deities." An Egyptian would take an oath by garlic or onions 

 as he would by his gods. 



The Greeks must have held all of the garlic tribe in very high 

 estimation, but in quite a different way from the Egyptians. A 

 philosophizing genius enabled the Greeks to struggle hard against 

 absurdities, and take vantage-ground for the freedom of intellect. 

 They had their Skorodophagi or garlic eaters, their Kronnnuophigi 

 or onion eaters, and their Prasophagi or leek eaters. We may say, 

 then, that the refined Greeks had, as respects vegetables, a combi. 

 nation of Spanish, French, and Welch tastes. 



Among the Romans a love for these bulbs also prevailed, and 

 sometimes to an intense degree, if we put full faith in the expres- 

 sions made use of respecting them. ' ; Sijoorrum et cepe trucidas" 

 says the Roman gentleman and poet, whose idea is best explained 

 perhaps by the translation: "If thou art devouring the leek 

 and onion. 1 ' And has not the same roguish bon vivant written 

 a whole ode in execration of garlic, because he hud partaken too 

 largely of it, as well no doubt as of other good things, at a ban- 

 quet? The fact appears to be that Horace, finding he had hurt 

 liis stomach by a surfeit, humourously clokes his failing, and 

 amuses himself by a philippic against the unlucky garlic, which, 

 coming uppermost, reminded him of his excess. In all likelihood 

 it had only been an ingredient of a dish, and had only lent its 

 attraction to some too luscious dainty. They were accustomed 

 to pound or bruize the garlic when preparing it for the table : 

 " Pistitlo fragrantia mollit allia" 



The reputation of this genus, being of such preeminence 

 amongst the nations of antiquity, will, I trust, excuse me for 

 having thus enlarged upon the subject. It may still interest some 

 readers to bring together a few opinions regarding the etymology 

 of the botanical name of the onion. Some give the Celtic word 

 All, meaning hot or burning, as a derivation for Allium ; but 



