138 ALLIACEOUS PLANTS. 



umbel of greenish-white flowers. The seeds are small, black, 

 somewhat irregular in form, and retain their vitality two 

 years. About thirty-six thousand are contained in an ounce. 



Sowing and Cultivation. The seeds are sown in drills 

 about half an inch in depth, and the crop subsequently treated 

 as the Common Onion. 



There are two varieties : 



Common or Skin, or pellicle, reddish-brown, changing to 

 Onion. silvery-white about the base of the leaves ; the 

 latter being fistulous, and about a foot in height. Its princi- 

 pal recommendation is its remarkable hardiness. The seeds 

 are sometimes sown in July and August for the young stems 

 and leaves, which are used during winter and early in spring 

 as salad. 



White "Welsh This is a sub-variety of the Common Red. 

 Onion. ViL 

 EAELY WHITE. The skin is rose-white, and, like that of the last 



named, changes to silvery- white about the upper portion of 

 the stem, or bulb ; the leaves are longer, deeper colored, 

 firmer, and less subject to wither or decay at their extremi- 

 ties, than those of the Common Red. The White is gener- 

 ally considered the better variety, as it is more tender, and 

 milder in flavor, though much less productive. 



The Welsh Onions are of little value, except in cold lati- 

 tudes ; and are rarely found in the vegetable gardens of this 

 country. 



