98 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



for a week or two. Afterwards, when quite dry 

 and firm, trim ofi the roots and leaves, retaining 

 only 2 or 3 inches of the stems ; tie the bulbs 

 into bunches, and hang them up in a cool, airy place 

 indoors where they are safe from frost. Except 

 during frost a free circulation of air is an essential for 

 keeping onions. Any bulbs that are blemished, and 

 those that are soft round the base of the stem, should 

 be kept by themselves and used first ; the bulbs that 

 keep longest are those that are sound and quite firm 

 up to the stems, and these are not always the largest 

 specimens. 



The foil owing are good varieties : To sow in July 

 for spring pulling, White Lisbon. To sow in August 

 for spring planting, Globe Tripoli and Giant Rocea. 

 To sow in spring, Cranston's Excelsior, Bedford- 

 shire Champion, Ailsa Craig, and Rousham Park 

 Hero the two first being excellent keepers. 



Shallot. 



Botanical Name : Allium ascalonicum, 

 Natural Order : Liliacece. 



The shallot is a native of Palestine, and has been 

 in cultivation from a very remote period. It was 

 first introduced into England in 1548, and since then 

 it has been extensively grown. 



Soil and Manures. A medium soil is best adapted 

 for this crop, and should be deeply dug in early 

 winter and laid up to the weather. A good plan 

 is to grow shallots on ground that was liberally 

 manured for a previous crop. Avoid digging-in 

 farmyard manure in winter unless the soil is poor, 



