306 
show from the development of the ordinary Pinks. AI- 
ways suspicious, one morning early I lifted down a box 
from the shelf and set it on the floor to have a thorough 
investigation. I had thought from the outset of their 
similarity to the little seed onions that I frequently had 
to weed when a boy, but of course it was folly to think 
Pink seed would produce onions. I, however, pulled up 
a dozen and rubbed them between my fingers, and sure 
enough got the familiar smell of the onion. I pulled a 
few more and washed them and then took a bite of a few 
of the ends, and lo! the unmistakable taste of an onion. 
Onions sure enough, and Spanish ones at that. I kept 
the secret to myself for several days, not liking to dispel 
all the anticipations of Pinks as soon as the Summer 
days came on that a score of longing hearts were gladly 
expecting to see, and in reply to many enquiries as 
regards the peculiar shape of the little plants, would tell 
tell them that they would assume their normal condition 
as soon as they were old enough to make their second 
leaf. But that leaf that so long was looked for never 
came, and one morning I told the ‘‘ boss”’ that his Pinks 
were onions. He would not admit it at first, until to 
convince him, as I did myself, I invited him to smell 
and then to taste. Still his confidenee in the old lady 
who sold the seeds was not entirely unshaken, as he told 
me to grow them on anyhow, and if they were not Pinks 
they might prove to be some desirable kind of an onion 
we did not have in this country. It was whispered 
around among the family and friends that the seeds were 
a failure, and we never after heard of the Spanish Pinks. 
It is needless to say the onions were not of any merit. 
Flower loving amateurs who grow plants in their living 
rooms are often trammeled by another dogma, this time 
bearing the authority of quasi-science, for a great man, 
oe 
i rr) 
