The Story-Book of the Fields 



these, after being fed by its store of pro- 

 vision, produces roots and leaves and becomes 

 a complete head of garlic. 



From the sucker to the bulb, from the 

 garlic to the onion, there is but a short step. 

 If we cut through an onion from top to 

 bottom, we shall find that it consists of a 

 succession of fleshy scales firmly fixed one 

 into the other. In the centre of these suc- 

 culent scales, which are only leaves trans- 

 formed into a supply of food, there are other 

 leaves of the normal shape and green colour. 

 So an onion is also a shoot fitted for an inde- 

 pendent existence by means of the conversion 

 of its exterior leaves into fleshy scales. 



We must all have noticed that the onion 

 when hanging on the wall for use in the 

 kitchen is awakened by the heat of the room 

 in winter, and from the heart of its brown 

 scales sends out a fine green growth which 

 appears to protest against the severity of the 

 season and recall the joyous time of spring. 

 As it develops the fleshy scales wrinkle, turn 

 soft and flabby and finally rot in order to 

 supply it with food. Sooner or later, when 

 the provision is exhausted, the growth will 

 die unless it is planted. This is a striking 

 example of a shoot developing independently 



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