1150 



PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



in early spring about 6 in. apart in the 

 rows. The bulb should be just covered 

 with soil. During the period of growth 

 offsets are produced and may be used for 

 increasing the stock the following year. 

 The bulbs are of good flavour, but are not 

 •extensively grown. 



The Welsh Onion (AlUumfistulosum). 

 This Onion has no bulbs but long fibrous 

 roots, and is cultivated sometimes for the 

 leaves. There is a red form and a green 

 one. Seeds may be sown in spring — from 

 March to April — as with ordinary Onions, 

 or the rootstocks may be divided at the 

 same period. The leaves are usually fit 

 for cutting about 3 months after the date 

 of sowing, and may be used for flavouring 

 soups &c. 



LEEK (Allium Poerum). — Like the 

 Onion the Leek is a hardy biennial plant, 

 and is believed to be a native of Switzer- 

 land. It is chiefly valued for the lower 

 blanched portion of the bulb-like stem or 

 rather the leaves, the real stem being the 

 flattish or slightly conical plate at the 

 base from the upper side of which the 

 leaves spring. 



Culture and Propagation. — The Leek 

 requires to be grown in a rich and light 

 loamy soil deeply dug and well manured as 

 for an Onion crop. Seeds may be sown at 

 the beginning and also the end of March, 

 a few days earUer or later according to 

 the weather and locality, when the soil is 

 in a good friable condition. 



To obtain the best results Leeks should 

 always be transplanted when 4-6 in. high 

 in mild showery weather. The plants 

 should be about 5 or 6 in. apart in rows 

 12-18 in. apart, and may be planted 

 deeply, just leaving the tops of the leaves 

 above the soil. It is a good plan also to 

 plant them in trenches, afterwards drawing 

 the soil up to and aroiand them on each side 

 when they have made good growth. In 

 this way the stems are blanched, and will 

 be ready for use from the autumn to 

 spring. 



Another method is to make holes 

 4-6 in. deep and place a plant in the cen- 

 tre of each. During the season the action 

 of the rain and weather gradually breaks 

 down the fine soil left on the edge of the 

 holes and thus automatically assists in 

 blanching. The holes are also useful in 

 holding supplies of rain water, liquid 

 manure &o. 



A modification of this plan is to malve 



trenches 9-12 in. wide, somewhat in the 

 same way as mentioned for Celery (p. 1130). 

 The bottom of the trenches may receive 

 a coating of good manure, and over this a 

 layer of rich soil, so as to leave the trenches 

 about 6-12 in. deep. The young Leeks 

 are then planted out in showery weather, 

 and as the season advances the soil is 

 fi-om time to time drawn around the 

 stems. The trenches are valuable for 

 holding rain water, liquid manure &c. 



During the summer months the plants 

 may be frequently and liberally watered, 

 especially i£ the weather is particularly 

 hot and dry. Liquid manure given about 

 once or twice a week will make a good 

 deal of difference vo. the size and succu- 

 lence of the ' stems.' 



The soil between the rows should be 

 kept free from weeds. It is possible if 

 desired to take a crop of early Lettuce 

 from between the rows of Leeks, before 

 the latter have made their full growth. 



Early Leeks. — Good Leeks are pro- 

 duced from start to finish out of doors. 

 Where, however, an extra early crop is 

 required it may be obtained as follows. 

 Seeds are sown rather thickly soon after 

 New Year's Day in light rich soil on a 

 gentle hotbed. The bed is well watered 

 and kept close until the young plants are 

 above the surface. After this the lights 

 are removed or tilted on all favourable 

 occasions to give the plants as much air 

 as possible. If too thick the seedlings 

 should be thinned out 1-2 in. apart, and 

 they should never lack for water. At the 

 end of March or early m April they vsdll 

 be hardy enough for transplanting to the 

 open ground. They ai-e then carefully 

 lifted and planted in rows as described 

 above, and will be ready for use about 

 July or August. 



Varieties. — The following are usually 

 met with in cultivation, some of them, 

 like The Lyon, attaining a great size. 

 Ayton Castle Giant, Large Mussel- 

 burgh, Henry's Prize, London Flag, 

 Benton's Monarch, axiA The Lyon. Most 

 of these when well grovra may be blanched 

 for about 1 ft. from the base. It should, 

 however, be remembered that what often 

 looks magnificent in size on the exhibi- 

 tion table is frequently deficient in cook- 

 ing qualities. And here a mild protest 

 may be appropriately entered against 

 prizing vegetables too much simply on 

 account of their great size and appear- 

 ance, and too little for their economic 



