SUMMER SALADINGS. 



11 



The Onion comes next on my limited list of salad vegetables, 

 and I may perhaps be blamed for including it. Young Onions, 

 however, are popular in some establishments, either for eating 

 separately or for flavouring salads. For either purpose they 

 must be young, and if more small Onions were forthcoming 

 many more would be eaten, especially as they are said to be good 

 for the blood. Of these, again, the American writer just alluded 

 to makes some sprightly remarks, a few of which I shall venture 

 to quote. This is what he says : — " I doubt not that all men and 

 women love the Onion ; but few confess their love. Affection 

 for it is concealed. Some people have days on which they eat 

 Onions, which you might call 'retreats.' The act is in the 

 nature of a religious ceremony, an Eleusinian mystery ; not a 

 breath of it must get abroad. On that day they see no company ; 

 they deny the kiss of greeting to the dearest friend ; they retire 

 within themselves, and hold communion with one of the most 

 pungent and penetrating manifestations of the moral vegetable 

 world. Happy is said to be the family which can eat Onions 

 together." I shall not attempt to combat the not unreasonable 

 prejudice against the Onion, but will merely repeat that if more 

 young Onions were grown more would be eaten, in spite of their 

 admitted drawbacks. They ought to be used when from 6 inches 

 to 9 inches in height, and preference should be given to white- 

 skinned varieties. Sow a pinch of seed every fortnight or three 

 weeks, from March to August inclusive, on rich ground, as they 

 must be grown quickly. 



Mustard and Cress, though popular enough, is not often seen 

 good during the summer, and, in any case, I prefer it served 

 separately as a morning salad to having it with other salad 

 ingredients saturated with dressing. The reason why it is so 

 often short, and none too free of grit, is because those who are 

 responsible either use stale or too poor soil, or else they fail to 

 shade heavily. Sow once a week all through the late spring and 

 summer months on freely manured soil. Old Mushroom bed 

 manure forked into the surface, rather than burying it deeply, 

 answers well. Thick sowing on a fine, level, well-moistured sur- 

 face is advisable, pressing in the seed, and covering the Mustard 

 only, and that very lightly, with soil. Cover the beds with 

 benders and mats until the Mustard and Cress is nearly 2 inches 

 in height, and then gradually expose it to the light Treated in 



