462 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



they retain any moisture. This is a half-late and productive 

 variety, and keeps tolerably well. 



Brown Portugal, or Straw-coloured White Spanish, Onion 



{OgJio?z Jaune Faille des Vertus). — Bulb very much flattened, 3 to 



4 in. in diameter, and about 

 2 in. thick, of a coppery 

 yellow colour, with firm 

 thick coats, which do not 

 easily come asunder, and 

 are deeper coloured in the 

 underground part of the 

 bulb than in the upper and 

 exposed part ; neck rather 

 fine; leaves numerous, 

 broad and dark green. 

 This is a rather early 

 and exceedingly productive 

 variety, and keeps to per- 

 fection. It is the kind most commonly used for field culture 

 about Paris, and is grown in very large quantities in the neighbour- 

 hood of Saint-Denis, and as far as Normandy. The winter supply of 

 Paris and of a great part of Europe consists chiefly of this variety, 

 which may be often seen hanging up in dwelling-houses in long hanks 

 formed by interlacing and plaiting the withered leaves together. 



Italian Tripoli Onion (i natural sizej. 



Brown Portugal Onion 

 natural size). 



Sulphur-coloured White Spanish Onion 

 ("I natural size). 



Reading-, or Sulphur-coloured White Spanish, Onion.— Bulb 

 quite fiat, 3 to 4 in. in diameter, and 2 in. or less thick, very much 

 resembling that of the Brown Portugal, or Vertus, Onion, but of a 

 far less coppery colour, and very perceptibly not so thick ; coats 

 firm, rather thick, very closely set, of a bright, slightly green, almost 



