By Mr. Charles Strachan. 375 



the Dutch Blood-red, as well as the St. Thomas s Onion. Its 

 shape is flat, and size middling ; the colour is a deep red, 

 which sufficiently distinguishes it from all others. It is a 

 very hardy, sound Onion, keeps particularly well, but is 

 strong. It is much grown in Wales and in Scotland. In the 

 London market, it is in demand for its medicinal properties, 

 being a strong diuretic. 



12th. The Tripoli Onion. This sort is not so well known 

 amongst gardeners as its peculiar merit, in some points, 

 deserves. It is much the largest Onion grown, and is very 

 different from all others in shape, for it tapers nearly as 

 much to the base of the bulb as to the top, thus becoming 

 almost oval, though in some cases, I have seen it flat. Its 

 colour is light red, tinged with green and brown. It grows 

 almost entirely out of the ground, little else but its fibres 

 being buried in the soil. It is a soft Onion, and will not keep 

 long after it is taken up ; but as long as it lasts, is excellent 

 on account of its mildness. 



13th. The Two-bladed Onion. This is a new sort with us. 

 It is of a shape inclining to flat, of middling size, and of a 

 green colour, after its light brown coat falls off. The tops 

 of this kind are very small, with little foliage, the smaller 

 bulbs having sometimes only two leaves (whence it derives 

 its name) but the larger ones do not possess this peculiarity, 

 though the number of leaves is always small. Its bulbs 

 ripen early, are hard, sound, and keep well, but are strong. 

 If the very small bulbs of this kind saved from the preced- 

 ing year, are re-planted in the spring, instead of running to 

 seed, they will swell and ripen, becoming fine sized Onions, 



