136 THE. AMATEURS’ GUIDE 
but they will soon push through the earth. New beds may be 
formed with pieces of old roots, which should be cut into lengths 
of about two inches, and planted the beginning of spring, three or 
four inches deep, and sixteen inches apart. In autumn, spread 
long stable-manure over the beds as a protection from extreme 
frost.. As soon as the frost is out of the ground, this may be 
taken off, or if well rotted, dig some in around the plants. arly 
in the spring, the crowns of the plants should be covered to the 
depth of ten or twelve inches for blanching. This may be done 
by placing over them a layer of dry sand or gravel, an inch thick, 
and over each cluster of plants a blanching-pot, box, or anything 
to exclude the light, pressing it firmly in the ground, an admis- 
sion of air being injurious to both color and flavor. If the pots or 
boxes used for this purpose be covered with fresh horse manure, 
it will forward the shoots in growth, and make them sweeter and 
more tender. When the plants have been covered three or four 
weeks, they should be examined, and if the stalks have made a 
growth of three or four inches, they may be cut. Care should be 
taken not to injure the crowns by cutting the shoots too close. 
If the beds are annually dug and manured, they will last many 
years, and will prove very productive. 
SHALLOT, OR ESCHALLOT. 
This vegetable has a strong, but not unpleasant odor, and is 
preferred by many to Onions for seasoning various dishes. It is 
propagated by offsets, which should be planted out in autumn, in 
rows twelve inches apart and six inches distant from each other. 
If planted the latter end of summer, they will be fit for use the 
middle of spring. The bulbs should be taken up when full 
grown, when the leaves begin to decay, and spread out to dry, in 
some airy situation. 
