ALLIACEOUS PLANTS. 295 



The bulb of the leek consists of the bottoms of the 

 leaves, which do not form in bulbules or cloves like 

 those of the garlic, neither are they so entire as the 

 tunics of the onion ; the stem runs to the height of 

 about three feet ; the (lowers, which are bell-shaped, 

 appear in May, in large close balls, followed by cap- 

 sules containing seeds. As the root of the leek is 

 rather the blanched end of the leaves than a bulb, 

 properly so called, the plant is to be considered chiefly 

 as a potherb ; though in some places both the root 

 and the greater part of the leaves are eaten by the 

 peasantry as an accompaniment to their bread. Its 

 chief value, however, is as a potherb, which stands 

 the winter well, and is in a forward and succulent 

 state at that part of the season when fresh vegetables 

 are the least abundant. The culture of the leek is 

 similar to that of the onion. 



GARLIC Jllliutn saiivum is the species from 

 which the genus takes its name. It is very exten- 

 sively used in most of the continental states. This 

 plant was first cultivated in England in 1548, and 

 was held in greater repute by our ancestors than is 

 in accordance with modern English taste. It is a 

 native of the countries on the shores of the Mediter- 

 ranean, and is still to be found growing wild in the 

 island of Sicily, and in the south of France. Though 

 thriving best on a naturally rich and dry soil, garlic 

 is a very hardy plant, and not very particular as to 

 climate. Its leaves are linear, long, and narrow ; 

 the root is perennial, composed of twelve or fifteen 

 lesser bulbs, enclosed in one common membranous 

 tunic, and easily separable from one another ; these 

 are called cloves of garlic, and are the only parts 

 used. The whole plant, and especially the cloves, 

 has a most acrimonious taste, and offensive smell ; 

 and even in those countries where it is most in favour 

 it is seldom eaten in substance, or even mixed in sub- 



