CHAPTER EIGHT 

 BULB CROP PROJECTS 



Onion, Give, Leek, Garlic, Shallot 



The group of bulb crops comprises onion, leek, cive, garlic, and 

 shallot. They not only belong to the same family but are in 

 fact different species of the same genus or group. All of these 

 plants form bulbs similar in general structure to the onion bulb. 

 Gives (spelled also chives) and shallot have cylindrical hollow 

 leaves. In cives or chives the bulbs are very small and the plants 

 grow in dense clumps. In shallot the bulbs are of fair size and the 

 plants do not form clumps. Leek and garlic have flat solid leaves. 

 In garlic the bulbs are made up of several secondary bulbs or 

 bulbils inclosed in a white skin. Both the bulbils, often referred 

 to as cloves, and the leaves are used for seasoning. The leaves 

 of garlic are very narrow. The leaves of leek are broad and the 

 bulbs small. Of this group the onion is by far the most important. 

 All of these vegetables are hardy and may be grown successfully 

 in any fertile, well-drained soil, though sandy loams are preferred. 

 They thrive best in soils abounding in vegetable matter. 



Project XV. Growing Onions 



The onion belongs to the lily family. This family does not 

 include many crop plants ; the only other of great importance 

 aside from the onion is asparagus. Numerous cultivated orna- 

 mentals belong here, such as lilies, tulips, hyacinths, and Spanish 

 bayonets. Wild garlic, which is one of the worst weeds, is a close 

 relative of the onion. 



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