200 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



growing in a circular form, to the height of three 

 or four feet. 



Culture. This useful vegetable is propagated by 

 seed, which should be sown to wards the end of March 

 or the beginning of April, on a slight hot-bed. 

 When the plants are up a few inches in height, they 

 must be planted singly in small pots, and kept shel- 

 tered till the end of May, when they may be turned 

 out in any light rich piece of ground, open to a 

 southern aspect, in order to forward the ripening 

 of the seeds in autumn. It produces seeds most 

 freely, dropping them on the ground, similar to the 

 nasturtium. 



More or less of this plant should be cultivated 

 in every garden ; for, besides forming an excellent 

 substitution for the common spinach, the seeds, 

 when pickled 'in a green state, are nearly equal to 

 capers. 



Some years ago, the author was informed by a 

 good English cook, that, on hearing some com- 

 plaints of the taste of this vegetable, she boiled with 

 it a small handful of French sorrel, which had the 

 effect of greatly improving its flavour. 



39. ONION. ALLIUM. 



The definition of the botanic name Allium has 

 been before given under the head garlic. The 

 onion was originally called by the ancient Latin 

 name Cepe, on account of the form of its bulb. 

 It is now made the specific, according to the Lin- 

 naean system. It was likewise termed Unio, be- 



