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LXXX. Description of the Hollow Leek, supposed to be the 

 true Welsh Onion; with Notices respecting some other 

 Varieties of the Genus Allium, grown in South Wales ; 

 and Observations on Cottage Gardens. In a Letter to the 

 Secretary. By Mr. Thomas Milne, F. H. S. 



Read October 5th, 1819. 



Sir, 



Herewit h you will receive bulbs of the Allium I men- 

 tioned, when I had last the pleasure of seeing you at this 

 place. What it may prove to be, I will not venture 

 to decide ; but I think it is not improbable, that it may 

 be that variety which you are desirous to obtain, I mean 

 the Scallion mentioned by Miller, which has been sup- 

 posed to be lost. I received it from Pembrokeshire, where 

 it is known by the name of Hollow Leek, it has been, 

 and now is, very generally cultivated in the cottage gar- 

 dens, in the south-west part of that county. Being, as al- 

 most all the Onion tribe are, very wholesome, it is much used 

 by the cottagers, to give a relish to their broth, and other 

 food. 



When the leaves wither, the roots, as you will observe, 

 very much resemble Shallots. They are generally planted 

 very thick in beds, in a convenient corner of the garden ; 

 one bulb, in a season, will increase and form a cluster from 

 six to ten or more, as the soil or situation may suit their 

 growth. Those persons who cultivate them, however, sel- 

 dom divide or transplant them, unless they are leaving their 



