SHALLOT. 135 



SHALLOT. 



Allium Ascalonicum. 



The Shallot (sometimes written Eschalot) is a native of 

 Palestine, the specific term " Ascalonicum " being derived 

 from Ascalon, a town in Syria : hence also the popular Eng- 

 lish name, " Scallion." 



The root of the plant is composed of numerous small bulbs, 

 united at their base ; the whole being enclosed in a thin skin, 

 or pellicle, varying in color in the different varieties. Leaves 

 fistulous, or hollow, produced in tufts, or groups ; flowers 

 reddish, in terminal, compact, spherical bunches. The 

 plants, however, very seldom blossom. 



Soil. The Shallot will thrive in any soil naturally adapt- 

 ed to the growth of the onion. In wet and cold soil it is 

 said to be more liable to the attacks of the maggot, than 

 when grown in that which is light and warm. 



Propagation and Culture. The roots of the Shallot, 

 which are bulbous, are readily increased by offsets. The 

 bulbs are oblong, but somewhat irregular in their form, and 

 seldom attain a large size. As they increase into clusters, 

 they do not swell like roots that grow singly. 



They are propagated by dividing these clustered roots into 

 separate offsets, and planting the divisions in April, in shal- 

 low drills one foot apart, placing them about six inches 

 apart in the drills, and covering them lightly with earth. 

 Soot mixed with the surface-soil has been found of much ser- 

 vice to prevent the maggot from committing extensive depre- 

 dations upon this plant. The only after-culture required is 

 that of keeping them clean from weeds, and occasionally stir- 

 ring the ground. 



Harvesting. The ripening of the crop will be indicated 

 by the decay of the leaves. After being thoroughly dried, 



