230 Gardening 



Garlic. The mature garlic bulb consists of a number 

 of small bulblets or cloves, each of which is inclosed in 

 a thin, dry, tough leaf ; the whole cluster is in turn in- 

 closed within a larger dry leaf. The cloves are separated 

 and planted in eaily spring, the plants continue growth 

 during summer, and the mature bulbs are harvested in 

 autumn. The dry tops, which are tough and stringy, 

 are braided together, and the string of bulbs is hung up in 

 a dry place. Garlic has a strong flavor and is used prin- 

 cipally in flavoring stews and salads. It is well adapted 

 for growing in the warm sections of the United States. 



Bulblet onions and their culture. In these onions 

 the mother plant produces small bulbs or bulblets and 

 seldom flowers and seeds. There are two sorts of bulblet 

 onions, commonly known as (i) multiplier and potato 

 onions, in which the mother bulb itself splits up into 

 bulblets, and (2) the Egyptian or perennial tree onion, 

 which not only divides at the base but also produces 

 erect stalks at the tops of which new bulblets develop. 

 The bulblets of multiplier and tree onions are quite 

 similar in structure to the onion sets grown from seed. 

 Not all seed firms list the sets of these onions, but they 

 may be had from some firms. 



Multiplier onions planted in autumn and left in the 

 ground over winter begin growth very early in the spring. 

 Almost before the ground is thawed out, the bulblets 

 begin to produce leaves and may then be pulled for the 

 table. If left alone, each bulblet becomes n compound 

 bulb composed of new bulblets. Unless well thinned by 

 pulling during the spring, the bulbs and bulblets should 

 be separated and replanted in autumn to prevent crowding. 



