SECTION VII 



THE ONION TRIBE 



ONIONS (Allium cepa).The Onion speaks for itself! 

 Its aggressiveness is often both painful and objection- 

 able to all but the consumer ! Hence a mighty 

 prejudice is observable in many quarters against this most 

 healthfully cleansing of all vegetables. While patent reasons 

 for objection undoubtedly exist, injustice falls to the lot of 

 the Onion, for it is robbed of its rightful place in the forefront 

 of the vegetable world, and its beneficent operations are 

 slighted, underrated, and refused full recognition. Yet the 

 fact remains, despite contumely and contempt, that the Onion 

 is indispensable ; its value inestimable, in culinary, sanitary, 

 and medicinal uses. . Besides, its palatable attributes are great, 

 for many a savoury dish or richly-flavoured, appetizing con- 

 coction would cease to justify that description were the Onion 

 probably cleverly and artfully hidden or disguised! eliminated 

 therefrom. On this latter score alone, there is ample basis 

 for the argument that the Onion in some shape or form 

 should be well represented even given the lion's share, perhaps 

 in every garden, large or small. 



" Can I grow Onions in my garden ? " has been the query 

 put to me on various occasions ; and in every case the answer, 

 accompanied by obviously necessary explanation, has been, 

 ' Yes, and No"\ This contradictory response is set right 

 by pointing out that one favourite way of producing Onions 

 in difficult situations is to procure or save all those Onions 

 which show signs of decay and particularly a tendency to sprout ; 

 these, planted in any moist spot at almost any time of year 

 will strike root, begin to grow, and in a very short time ulti- 

 mately form several divisions apiece, about the size of the 

 average " Spring Onion " so popular during the salad season. 

 These facts enable me to say emphatically " Yes " to the query 



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