GARLIC. 



127 



ground : every little button will produce one, and often two 

 or three good sized onions. If you wish large bulbs, the 

 seed-stem should be broken down. The old bulbs, if any 

 remain over, may be planted and will yield an abundant 

 crop of buttons and off-sets ; keep the ground free of weeds 

 and cultivate as directed for the other onions. They will 

 be fit for use if well treated, in May, long before the other 

 kinds. Gather and cure as directed for the common onion. 

 The small bulbs are the finest of this tribe for pickling, 

 being considered much superior in flavor. 



Allium Sativum — Garlic. 



This is a hardy perennial plant, a native of Sicily and 

 the south of France ; it has been cultivated at least three 

 hundred years. There are two sorts, one with large and 

 the other with small bulbs ; each bulb consisting of a half 

 dozen or more small bulbs or cloves. The ashes of the 

 garlic bulbs have been analysed by Herapath, and the con- 

 stituents are given below. We have not been able to find 

 an analysis of the leaves. 



Soluble matter. — Carbonic Acid, . . 12.17 



Sulphuric Acid, . . . 4.82 



Phosphoric Acid, . . 2.18 



Potassa, .... 35.13 



Soda, .... trace 



Chloride of Sodium, . . 2.75 



Insoluble matter — Carbonate of Lime, . 5.74 



Do. Magnesia, , 6.89 



Phosphate of Lime, . 30.09 



Do. Magnesia, . trace 



Do. Iron, . trace 



Silica, .... 0.22 



99.99 



