466 THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



which start to grow too soon. It is only suitable for spring 

 culture. There are very many local forms of it which hardly 

 differ from one another. That which is most frequently met 

 with in commerce is grown in the neighbourhood of Bourgueil, 

 in Touraine. The Pale Red Strasburg, or Dittch, Onion is closely 

 allied to the Common Pale Red Onion, differing from it only in 

 being a little more coppery in colour, and not quite so much 

 flattened in shape. 



Niort Pale Red Onion. Bulb broad and flat, 3 to 4 in. in 

 diameter (sometimes more), and from \\ to if in. thick, of a pale 

 pink, slightly tinged with copper colour, and with some purple on 

 the inner coats ; leaves numerous, erect, large, and light green; 

 neck rather fine. The outer coats of the bulb are thin and 



\ 



Common Pale Red Onion Niort Pale Red Onion 



( natural size). ( natural size). 



brittle, but it keeps well notwithstanding. This is an excellent, 

 early, and very productive variety, and is very highly esteemed 

 in the west of France. It answers well for sowing in spring, 

 but succeeds best in its native district when sown in autumn, 

 and transplanted either at the beginning or the end of winter, 

 for the winters are mild in Brittany, Vendee, and Poitou, where 

 it is chiefly grown. 



The Lendoitre Onion, a great favourite in Poitou, is only a 

 form of the present variety which has a somewhat flatter and 

 harder bulb. 



The Saint-Brieuc Pale Red Onion differs from the Niort variety 

 in having the bulb not so much flattened, yellower and less tinged 

 with red. It is also not so hardy. Of the two varieties the Niort 

 is preferable in every respect, and it has almost entirely superseded 

 the Saint-Brieuc even in Brittany. 



