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) ‘* Cut-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. 
