THE ONION TRIBE 98 



deteriorates. The best plan of all is to make fresh plantations 

 yearly by moans of the root offsets. 



POTATO or UNDERGROUND ONION. These form a species 

 of Onion which, planted in the same manner as Shallots, produce 

 a number of new bulbs each season. The culture is of the 

 simplest nature, the results most profitable and extremely 

 useful where mild Onions are in demand, and it is strange that 

 one sees so few of these excellent members of the Onion tribe 

 in gardens. They ought to be universally grown, especially 

 in small gardens. 



THE SHALLOT (ESCHALOT) (A Ilium ascalonicum) . - 

 Shallots demand a culture that a child of tender age could afford 

 with success, it is so simple ! A raised bed of fine, dry soil, 

 into which is worked any charred or burnt refuse, wood-ashes, 

 soot, flue-dust, etc., is all that is required, to start with. The 

 bulbs are planted singly, just pressed into the soft earth, and 

 then covered with ashes of any kind. After a short time, the 

 bulbs will root and become firri in the soil, when the ashes may 

 be removed, and the ground stirred gently between the rows, 

 eliminating all weeds. That is the only culture Shallots require. 

 They may be planted either in October or February, as cir- 

 cumstances permit, about six inches apart, in rows at intervals 

 of nine inches. In July they are ripe, and should be taken up, 

 dried in the shade, and stored. These plants are very orna- 

 mental, providing elegant tufts of green leaves long before 

 vegetation generally begins to make a show, and prove capital 

 subjects for edgings to beds of less attractive subjects. Their 

 use in cookery is of high degree, they possessing an excellent 

 mild flavour ; and they also make a splendid pickle. 



GARLIC (Allium sativum). This is an extremely odorous 

 member of the Onion Family, much used on the Continent, and 

 forming a prominent ingredient in many a dish. In these isles 

 its use is mainly confined to flavouring purposes, in pickles, 

 chutney, and similar preparations. The culture is precisely 

 the same as that advised for Shallots ; but they must not be 

 planted too early say, in February being not so hardy as 

 Shallots. A light, rich soil suits this bulb. It is usually 

 propagated by parting the roots, but the bulbs produced 

 on the stems may also be used for planting. If any sign of 

 running to seed is noted, tie the foliage in knots to prevent this 



