ONION 



467 



Bright Red August Onion natural size). 



Early Flat Red Onion.— An exceedingly early variety, which 

 bulbs almost as soon as the Early White Silver-skinned Onion, 

 like which it has scanty and slightly glaucous leaves. The bulb 

 is very broad and flat in proportion to its depth, and is of a decided 

 red colour when dried a little, 

 but while growing, and also 

 underneath the outer coats, it 

 is more of a purple colour. 

 It is a good first-crop Onion, 

 but, like most very early 

 varieties, does not keep very 

 well. 



Bright Red August 

 Onion. — This handsome 

 variety is not unlike the 

 ]\Iezieres Onion described 

 further on, but the bulb is 

 somewhat smaller, seldom 

 exceeding 4 in. in diameter, 

 and about if in. in thickness. 

 It is usually thicker in com- 

 parison with its diameter than the Mezieres variety, and also less 

 riattened at the ends ; its colour is a little darker on the outer 

 coats, and violet-red on the inner ones. An essential difference 

 between the two kinds is that the August variety is especially 

 suitable for sowing in autumn. It is chiefly grown in the south- 

 eastern parts of France, where it is sown in August and transplanted 

 in October, the crop coming in in the course of the following 

 summer. It is productive and keeps well. 



Blood-red, or St. Thomas', Onion. — Bulb very much flattened. 



seldom exceeding about 

 an inch in thickness, with 

 a diameter of from 2| to 

 3i in. ; coats firm, closely 

 set, of a deep wine-red on 

 '-^ the outside ; inner ones 

 of a fine, intense, brilliant 

 red ; neck fine ; leaves 

 rather stiff, compact, and 

 dark green. This is a 

 mid - season variety, not 

 very productive, but keeps 

 very well. It is hardy and easily grown, and is most in favour in 

 the northern districts of France. 



In the south-west of France, especially about Bordeaux, a very 

 fine variety of Onion is sometimes met with under the plain name 



Blood-red, or St. Thomas", Onion. 



