THE ALLIA CEO US PLANTS. 1 19 



The Romans considered it injurious: "Allium torquet, adurit, enecat." 

 (Pliny, lib. xxv. cap. 13.) Our Continental neighbours 

 use it to such an extent as to be offensive to the Eng- 

 lish, and enough to deter them for ever from using it in 

 cookery. Garlic is grown like shallots or potato onions. 

 A most extraordinary idea is mentioned by Horace, F'c- i69.-Gariic. 

 who speaks of garlic as a fit poison for anyone who has killed his 



father -.-r- 



" Parentis olim si quis impia manu 



Senile guttar fregerit, 



Edat cicutis allium nocentius." — Epode 3. 



MARROWS AND PUMPKINS. 

 Marrows {Cucurbita ovifera, fig. 170) are of great use in August, 

 and when the hot weather dries ^up nearly every other 

 vegetal it makes the vegetal marrow plants thrive ar^^ 

 fruit. There are several varieties in cultivation ; but on 

 the Custard, although very pretty in appearance, we ha\ 

 totally discarded, from its inferior quality at the tabl 

 The seed is sown in cold frames in April, and allowed to 

 germinate slowly. At the end of May they may 1 

 planted out with a barrow of manure, when they will 

 usefullv cover any unsightly object. The more the marrows fig. 170.— vege- 



J J *^ •> -^ tal Marrow, 



are cut the greater will be the produce, as a single fruit *'''^'"- 



___„_ allowed to seed stops the produce of the 



''~\~" \ plant. If at the end of the season a few 

 ' \ are allowed to ripen, they will keep, and 



J'/.' ' 'M.'', I may be used through the winter. 

 S! ^ '' il Vjte? '^ ^^ grow Pumpkins {Citcurbita Pepo, fig. 



"^'^iMHi^^' 171) rather more for the pleasure of, seeing 



iG. 17..- ump m, lam. ^^i^^ j-jj^^ for their intrinsic value. They 



are used in apple-pies ; but the pies are i)etter with apples alonei 

 without the pumpkins. Pumpkin soup is extremely good, and can be 

 particularly commended. Pumpkins are grown in the same manner 

 as vegetal marrows. Neither our pumpkins nor vegetal marrows 



