Crops Grown for Their Leaves 231 



Tree onions also live through severe winters without 

 injury. The basal or mother bulb divides, making tender 

 young plants suitable for use in early spring. If left 

 alone, the plants may later produce erect stalks on which 

 a cluster of new bulblets is produced. These may be 

 planted in autumn to raise another crop of leafy plants 

 in the following spring. 



The various bulblet onions furnish, as do chives, fresh 

 leafy food suitable for table use during spring, when 

 the green parts of the leaves as well as the basal parts 

 are tender, juicy, and of good flavor. They are then 

 pulled, cleaned, and eaten raw as a relish. In the 

 markets such onions are commonly sold in bunches ; 

 hence they are often called " bunch onions." Later 

 in the season the leaves become tough and of strong 

 flavor. The bulblets themselves are usually too small 

 to be of much value as " dry " onions, but they are about 

 the right size for use in pickling. 



LEAFY CROPS GROWN FROM SEED 



The leafy crops that are grown from seed may be 

 grouped into several classes, as follows : 



(1) The bulb plants, such as seed onions and leeks. 



(2) " Gut-and-come-again " crops that begin to yield 

 leaves early in the summer, like parsley, yellow rocket, 

 Swiss chard, and New Zealand spinach. 



(3) The long-period cool-season crops that mature in 

 autumn, like endive and chicory. 



(4) The forced cool-season crops, including celery, 

 the cabbages, and head lettuce. 



