SHALLOT 



VEGETABLE GABDEN 



BEETEOOT 1151 



value. Good flavour and quality should 

 always be considered before mere size. 



SHALLOT (AiLiuM ascalonicum). — 

 The true Shallot is a perennial plant, 

 native of Palestine. It has a greyish or 

 silvery skin, and is somewhat long and 

 Pear-shaped in outline. The false or 

 Jersey Shallot is the plant generally 

 grown, and is really a small roundish 

 tapering Onion with a deep red-brown 

 skin. 



Although closely related to the Onion, 

 the Shallot grows somewhat differently 

 and is usually increased by the offsets or 

 ' cloves ' from the old bulbs, instead of 

 seeds. The latter, however, may be sown 

 in the same way as those of Onions (see 

 p. 1148). 



Soil, cultivation, Sc. — The Shallot 

 likes a light, rich soil, but will grow well 

 in ordinary good garden soil well dug and 

 manured as for Onions and Leeks. Early 

 in March, when the soil is not wet and 

 sticky, the cloves may be planted in 

 shallow drills about 9 to 12 in. apart, 

 allowing about 4 to 6 in. between them in 

 the rows. They should be almost entirely 

 covered with soil, but as a rule the tops 

 are left just sticking above the surface. 

 At the latter end of July the leaves begin 

 to wither. This being a sign that growth 

 is finished for the season, the bulbs may 



be pulled up, and spread out to dry for a 

 few days, afterwards storing them in a dry 

 and cool airy place. They will keep in 

 good condition for several months and 

 are much valued for pickling and as 

 seasoning or flavouring by cooks, and are 

 considered to be superior to Onions for 

 these purposes. 



GARLIC (Allium sativum). — The 

 Garlic is a S. European perennial having 

 irregular-shaped bulbs well known for 

 their strong and highly pecuKar flavour. 

 In the warmer southern countries of 

 Europe, however, this flavour is not so 

 intensely developed as it seems to be in 

 cooler and more northern climes. 



Culture and Propagation <tc. — The 

 Garlic is grown practically in the same 

 way as the Shallot, and is always increased 

 by means of the cloves or offsets from the 

 old bulbs. The cloves are planted in 

 drills or rows like those of the Shallot, 

 but are completely covered with soil to a 

 depth of one or two inches. At the end 

 of February or the beginning of March is 

 the usual time to plant, but when the 

 bulbs are lifted in late summer, another 

 planting may be made so as to produce 

 an earlier crop the following year. After 

 the leaves have withered the bulbs are 

 lifted, dried, and stored in a dry, cool, and 

 airy place like Shallots. 



Group VII. — Miscellaneous Crops 



BEETROOT (Beta vblgaeis). — 

 Although the Beetroot produces tap- 

 roots somewhat resembhng the Carrot, 

 Parsnip, and Turnip in shape, it belongs 

 to a different order of plants altogether, 

 namely ChenopodiaeecB, the characters of 

 which are briefly given at p. 765. It is 

 a native of Europe, and a biennial by 

 nature. It forms a thick fleshy root the 

 first year in the same way as the Carrot 

 and Turnip, and will produce flowers and 

 seeds the second year if allowed to 

 continue in growth. 



Soil. — The Beetroot flourishes in a 

 deep light and fairly rich soil, but dislikes 

 its roots reaching strong manure of any 

 kind. Indeed it may be said that the 

 Parsnips (see p. 1129) and Beetroot 

 require the same soil and treatment. 

 Any manure for the soU on which Beet 

 is to be grown should be given the 

 previous year, and should have grown 



another crop. The soil is brought into 

 a good condition for producing Beet by 

 digging or trenching the previous winter, 

 and should be in a, well-drained state, so 

 that water shall readily pass away from 

 the roots. 



To secure the best results Beetroot 

 should be grown in warm, open, and 

 sunny situations, and not under the shade 

 of trees, which interfere with the proper 

 colouring and ripening of the plants. 



Seed-sounng. — To secure an early 

 crop the first sowing of Beet may take 

 place about the end of March ; the main 

 crop early in May in the south, or the 

 latter end of April in the north. 



The seed is sown in shallow drills or 

 rows 1 ft. or 15 in. apart, when the soil 

 is in a good condition. By soaking the 

 seeds for about a day and a night, their 

 germinating powers will be quickened ; 

 but this is not an advantage in the case 



