OUR COMMON VEGETABLES. 



121 



following: The common Onion, A. Cepa,Ij.; Garlic, A. sa- 

 tivum, L. ; the Shallot, A. ascalonicum, L. ; Chives, A. Schce?io- 

 prasum, L. ; Kocambole, or Sand Leek, A. Scorodoprasum, L. ; 

 and the Leek, A. Ampeloprasum, var. Porrum, L. 



The common Onion is one of the earliest of the cultivated 

 species. It was used as a spell in Chaldea, possibly 5000 B.C.* 

 It is probably the Krommuon of Theophrastus and Ccepa of 

 Pliny. One variety was worshipped in Egypt, and Garlic and 

 Onions were invoked by them when taking an oath. Pliny says 

 " there are no such things as wild Onions," but later botanists 

 have discovered A. Cepa as truly wild in Beluchistan and neigh- 

 bouring countries. Gerarde figures only two varieties, the white 

 and the red. 



The Spring or Welsh Onion, or Rock Onion of Russia, A. 

 ftstuloswn, is a native of Siberia and Russia. It has been grown in 

 England since 1629. f Like the Leek, it does not form a bulb. 



Garlic is wild in the desert of the Kirghis of Sungari. i 

 It is very ancient and widespread in cultivation. Herodotus 

 mentions it as grown in Egypt, upwards of 3000 b.c.§ 



The Shallot, A. ascalonicum, is believed to be the same as; 

 the Ascalonian Onion of Pliny, who says " it is so called from 

 Ascalon, a city of Judaea." Theophrastus, however, as also 

 A. de Candolle, |j regards it as a form of A. Cepa. It is not known 

 wild. It was introduced into England in 1548. 



The Chive occupies an extensive area in the northern hemi- 

 sphere, both in the old and new worlds. It is found wild in some 

 of the northern and western counties of England and Wales. A 

 variety to be met with in the Alps appears to be nearest to the 

 cultivated form. It is very possibly the same as the Scorodon 

 schiston of Theophrastus, but it might have been collected wild. 



The Rocambole, or Sand Leek, occurs wild from Yorkshire 

 and Lancashire to Fife and Perthshire, as well as in Ireland. It 

 is not of ancient cultivation, though of European origin, as it is 

 not mentioned by Greek and Latin authors. 



* Mentioned in the " Library of the Kings of Shumir and Accad." See 

 The Story of the Nations — Chaldea. 



f It is figured in the Bot. Mag. No. 1230. 

 | De Candolle, Origin of Cult. Plants, p. 64. 



§ He says that an inscription was on the great Pyramid in his day,, 

 stating that 1,600 talents had been paid for Onions, Radishes, and Garlic 

 for the workmen who built it— probably about 3300 b.c. 



|| Origin of Cult. PI. p. 64. 



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