ONION. 205 



justly remarked that the potatoe onion is a very 

 valuable acquisition to our gardens, and its culti- 

 vation cannot be too strongly recommended. It 

 is most hardy, productive, and mild in quality, 

 equally so with the Spanish ; and possesses this 

 advantage, that its roots are perfectly ripened and 

 fit for use two months before any other sort. 



12. Tree, or Bulb-bearing Onion, originally from 

 Canada, where, the climate being too cold for 

 onions to flower and seed, when they are allowed to 

 throw up flower-stalks, the flower becomes vivipa- 

 rous, and bears bulbs instead of flowers. It is 

 more an object of curiosity than use, though in 

 some parts of Wales the cauline bulbs are planted, 

 and produce good ground onions of a considerable 

 size, while the stem supplies a succession of bulbs 

 for next year's planting. It is considered stronger 

 for seasonings than other onions. 



The Large Portuguese Onions, seen in the shops 

 of the fruiterers in the metropolis, as well as in all 

 our principal seaports, are imported from that 

 country in large quantities, and sold at a high price. 

 This description of onion forms a most delicious 

 vegetable when boiled, and is sufficiently tender to 

 be divided with a knife or spoon, like a turnip or 

 a potatoe ; whilst the onion produced in our own 

 country remains so tenacious that, unless boiled to 

 pap, or cut prior to being cooked, it can be divided 

 only into flakes or layers. 



Culture. The soil, in general, cannot be too 

 rich for this useful vegetable, even in Spain and 

 Portugal, where a fine loamy soil abounds. It is 

 more or less manured for every crop. The market- 



