ALL 



ALL 



in which ihough their blades be cut off, the roots 

 remain sound, and shoot forth witli great vigour 

 carlv in spring, I'urnishing seasonable sujiplies 

 till May, w hen they generally run to seed. They 

 may be cultivated more or less as a winter-stand 

 ina; crop, with advantage for spring use. It is 

 perennial in root, and increases by offsets into 

 great clusters, but is not propagated in that way 

 for general use, but by seed in the same manner 

 as the former sorts of onion. The best season 

 for sowins the seed is in August, in the same 

 manner as the autumn onion crops. 



The plants mostly appear in twelve or fifteen 

 days after bein<jc sown, and towards Michaelmas 

 should be carefully hand-weeded. It is a pecu- 

 liaritv, in this species of onion, to lose its lop in 

 November or December, and remain in that state 

 till towards Candlemas, when the roots shoot 

 forth again ; at w hich time it is proper to dig the 

 alleys, and spread about an inch depth of the earth 

 evenly over the surface of the beds; by which vi- 

 gour is given to the roots, and the plants are made 

 to rise strong, and at the same time the part 

 within the earth blanched white, and rendered 

 more tender and mild to eat, as well as more 

 agreeable. 



When the sowing of a Michaelmas crop has 

 been omitted, some seed may be sown towards the 

 end of January, in which case the plants will ap- 

 pear in February or March ; and being hardy conti- 

 nue srowing, and become fit to draw in the early 

 spring months. In order to save a supply of seed 

 of this species of onion, it is necessary to retain 

 some plants for stools. In the end ofMarch, a par- 

 cel of strong young plants may be put out nine 

 inches distant, which will produce seed in August. 

 But if the roots be let remain, in the following 

 year, they produce treble the quantity : but as 

 they increase into great bunches, the stgols should 

 be removed and separated every second or third 

 year at the furthest. 



The third species, the Gives or Chives, is the 

 smallest of all the onion kind, rising but a few 

 inches high : it is perennial, and increases con- 

 siderably into clu^iters, from which large tufts 

 of slender awl-shaped leaves issue, which are the 

 piincipal part used, the roots never forming any 

 bulbs, at least not bigger than small peas. It is a 

 hardy plant, which deserves a place in every kit- 

 ciien garden ; as its clusters of leaves appear early 

 in the spring, and arc useful insallads, and for other 

 ordinary purposes, before the onion is ready. 



The chief method of gathering it is by cutting 

 the leaves off near the ground, by which a fresh 

 sup|ilv is soon produced from the bottom ; or 

 occasionally the plants may be slipped quite to 

 the root of the clu^tersJ in separate little plant,-, 

 which resemble young onions, and may be used 

 as substitutes for them. It is easily increased by 



dividing the roots in spring, and planting eight 

 or ten of thein together in holes, at six inches di- 

 stance, on the edges of beds or borders. In ihi> 

 way, by the autumn they multiply into bunches 

 of a large size. 



The fourth species, the Eschalot or Shallot, is 

 a kind of onion, which is bull)ous-rooted, and 

 which increases greatly by offsets, the largest of 

 which are the proper parts of the plant for use. The 

 bulbs are oblong, irregular, and seldom grow to 

 any great size; for, as thev generally increase into 

 clusters, they do not swell like roots that grow sin- 

 gly. From the roots are produced many long nar- 

 row feeble leaves in the sprinj, which wither in 

 .luly or Ausrust, when the roots are full grown. 

 Tl\ey should tlien be taken up, made dry, and 

 housed ; in which way they keep in good perfec- 

 tion till the following spring. 



The propagation of this plant is best performed 

 by the smaller roots or offsets, winch may he 

 planted out in autumn or early in the spring. The 

 end of October, or beginning of November, 

 is the most proper season for the autunm plant- 

 ing, and February and March for tiiat of the 

 spring, but not later than the beginning of April. 

 The spring is the most general season of planting 

 them ; but when this is done in autunni, in a dry 

 light soil, they often grow larger, and sooner at- 

 tam their full growth the following sunnner. 

 They should be planted in bedsof good light earth, 

 four feet wide, in rows lengthways of the bed, six 

 inches asunder ; each offset being inserted sinsriy, 

 either by means of a dibble, or planted in drills, 

 not more than two or three inches deep, and the 

 same distance as above in each row. They mostly 

 shoot up in leaves in March or April, and the 

 roots increase in growth till July or August. The 

 only culture which they require afterwards, is 

 that of keeping them clean from weeds, by occa- 

 sional hand-weeding or hoeing. Towards tlic 

 end of July or beginning of August, the bulbs 

 will have attained their full growth, as is seen by 

 the withering of the leaves. They should then 

 be taken up in a dry day, and spread in the sun to 

 harden ; when the largest should be cleaned and 

 housed for use, and the smaller offsets reserved 

 for propagation in the spring. 



SluUots being sometimes wanted early in the 

 summer j in such cases, as they will have formed 

 small bulbs towards the latter end of May or in 

 June, a few may occa-sinnaliy be taken up for u 

 present supply, permitting a principal crop to 

 remain in order to effect their full growth. 



The fifth species, the Canada or Tree Onion, is 

 cultivated both as a curiosity in producing the 

 onion at the top of the stalk, and for the use of 

 the oniorLs for the purpose of pickling, in which 

 thev are excellent, being much superior in flavour 

 to the common union. 

 H 



