370 Account of the different varieties of the Onion. 



which account the experiment with which I was charged 

 could not be conducted with all the advantages which a more 

 favourable year would have afforded. This circumstance 

 will therefore, I trust, excuse errors in this account, which 

 subsequent observation may make it necessary to correct ; 

 but as all the sorts described were cultivated together, and 

 consequently equally subject to the unfavourableness of the 

 season, the observations founded on comparison between 

 them will be less likely to be incorrect. Perhaps the want 

 of a due supply of moisture to the bulbs might occasion them 

 to take a higher colour than would belong to them in a more 

 rainy season, in which they would also attain a greater size, 

 and on that account be also generally paler, and their strength 

 of flavour be diminished. 



The common Onion is the Allium Cepa of Linnaeus, the 

 regular varieties of which are the chief object in this paper. 

 The same genus supplies our kitchen gardens with the fol- 

 lowing, viz. the A. sativum, or Common Garlic ; A. Scorodo- 

 prasum, or Rocambole; A. Ascalonicum, or Shallot; and 

 A. Schcenoprasum, or dikes ; all of these more peculiarly 

 belong to the herb garden. There is besides, the A. Porrum, 

 or Leek, which must be considered as a distinct vegetable, 

 and therefore not requiring notice here. 



But there are three other plants belonging to the genus, 

 which though not exactly falling under the description of the 

 common Onion, ought to be described, for, as they are known 

 to gardeners as Onions, a general account of the vegetables 

 so called, would be imperfect were they not included in it ; 

 these are, the Welsh Onion ; the Underground, or Potatoe 

 Onion ; and the Tree, or Bulb-bearing Onion. 



