BOOK XIX. XXXIV. 113-116 



covered up : this prevents their making too lush 

 foliage. In cold soils it pays better to plant in the 

 spring than in autumn. Moreover with all of these 

 plants, to prevent their having an objectionable smell, 

 it is advised to plant them when the moon is below 

 the horizon and to gather them when it is in con- 

 junction. The Greek writer Menander states that 

 people e^tiniJ- garHc without taking these precautions 

 can neutraUze the smell by eating after it a beetroot 

 roasted on the hot coals. Some people think that Oromngand 

 the best time for phinting both garUc and ulpicum is ^^l^^ 

 between the Feast of the Crossways and the Feast of 

 Satum." GarUc can also be grown from seed, but it 

 is a slow process, as the head only makes the size 

 of a leek in the first year and divides into cloves in the 

 second year, making full gro\vi;h in the third year; 

 and some people think that this variety of garUc is a 

 finer kind. It must not be aUowed to run to seed, 

 but the stalks must be twisted up for purposes of 

 propagation, so that it may form a stronger head. 

 But if garlic or onions are wanted to keep for some 

 time, their heads shoukl be soaked in warm salt 

 water ; that will make them last longer and wiU 

 render them better for use, though barren in 

 seeding. Others are content to begin by hanging 

 them up over burning coal, and think that this 

 expedient is quite sufficient to prevent their sprout- 

 ing, which it is weH known that garUc and onions 

 do even when out of tlie ground, and after enlarging 

 their smaU stalk they wither away. Also some people 

 think that garUc keeps best when stored in chaff. 

 Therc is also another garlic called ahim that grows 

 self-sown in the fiekls, wliicli, after having been 

 boiled to prevent its shooting up again, is scattered 



495 



