THE KITCHEN GARDEN 251 



high on the tall flower-stalk Avith its curious swollen 

 base. Shallots stand like soldiers in their ranks, so 

 neatly and evenly do they grow, with their dark- 

 green upright leaves looking like well-to-do patches 

 of Jonquil. Chives is a neat edging-plant, growing 

 in close tufts, the chopped leaves good in salads. A 

 row of Leeks is a pleasant sight, both growing and 

 served in a dish as a green vegetable ; the mildest of 

 all the Onion tribe. The Avild Garlic is such a pretty 

 plant, Avith its heads of AA^hite flowers and broad deep- 

 green leaves like those of Lily of the Valley, and 

 makes such fine sheets of good green foliage in some 

 of the neighbouring Avoods, that I am ahvays tempted 

 to naturalise it in the home copse, being only deterred 

 by its extremely rank and unpleasant smell Avhen 

 touched, or even when only stirred by the Avind. 



There are several Garlics (Allmm) in garden 

 cultivation, the one best knoAm being the yelloAv- 

 flowered Allium Moly. Then there is the useful A. 

 neapolitanum, so much imported as an early market 

 flower; and one very handsome one Avitli a tall stalk 

 and round head of a really good blue (A, azureum), 

 a native of Siberia, not at all common in gardens. 

 There are several garden kinds Avith dull pink floAvers, 

 but I do not think them of much importance. 



At first sight there does not seem to be much 

 connection between Potatoes and Tomatoes, and yet 

 they are nearly related, and bear the same botanical 



