December 15, 1888, 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
245 
the case of the Tree Onion, and it is therefore propa¬ 
gated only by the bulbs which are formed underground. 
Messrs. Vilmorin & Co., in their Vegetable Garden, 
say : “ If pretty strong bulbs are planted immediately 
after winter, well-grown Onions may be gathered from 
them in the following June ; but if the plants are 
allowed to attain full maturity, instead of a single bulb 
from each, seven or eight will be produced of various 
sizes. The strongest of these will also in their turn pro¬ 
duce a number of bulbs, while the weaker ones generally 
I have stated that the Onion is a plant of great 
antiquity. By the ancient Egyptians the Onion was 
regarded as a plant partaking of a sacred character, 
and as a symbol of the universe. “ With them,” states 
Mr. Folkard, “it was a common object of worship,” 
and their veneration for this and other vegetable 
products is ridiculed by the Satirist Journal: 
“How Egypt, mad with superstition grown, 
Makes gods of mortals, but too well is known 
’Tis mortal sin an Onion to devour, 
from the central part of continental Europe, although 
it may have been originally a native of countries further 
to the south, and have been rendered hardier and less 
prone to degenerate from its gradual change of climate. 
I have a catalogue of Onions, published in 1817, 
which gives eight varieties as in cultivation in those 
days—the common, Deptford Globe, James’s Keeping, 
Blood Red, Silver-skinned, Strasburgh, and White 
Spanish. In these days the foregoing still remain our 
leading types, but by cross-fertilisation and selection 
Cattleya Dowiana aurea, 
grow into a single large bulb. The flesh of tbe Potato 
Onion is very agreeable to the taste, and of good quality. 
The larger the bulbs are the worse they keep.” In the 
case of the Tree or Egyptian Onion the plant throws 
up an inflorescence, but instead of furnishing seeds, 
the stem produces at the extremity a cluster of bulblets 
or small bulbs of a brownish red colour, about the size 
of Brazil nuts, and from these the plant is propagated. 
When planted in spring these small bulbs form large 
ones by the end of the year, but do not produce any 
bulblets until the following year. The bulbs soon 
decay, but the bulblets keep very well. We may look 
upon these two forms as curiosities in vegetation 
among Onions. 
Each clove of Garlic has a sacred power ; 
Religious nations sure, and blest abodes 
When every garden is o’errun with gods ! ” 
Clove is used in the same sense as bulbs. The Onions 
of Egypt, which are said to have been of large size and 
exquisite flavour, were remembered with regretful 
longings by the discontented Israelites in the wilderness, 
and although the priests of ancient Egypt were for¬ 
bidden to partake of them, yet they were admitted 
among the offerings placed upon the altars of their 
gods. 
That the Onion was known and cultivated in Britain 
at a very early period does not admit of doubt. It is 
thought that the plant was first Introduced into England 
Hialiy remarkably fine varieties have been produced, 
and the Onion has reached a degree of development 
undreamed of years ago. At the last exhibition of the 
National Chrysanthemum Society, held at the Royal 
Aquarium, a dish of twelve Onions, named the Lord 
Keeper, was shown by Mr. Henry Deverill, seedsman, 
of Banbury, which weighed 19£ lbs., the largest bulb 
just turning the scale at 2 lbs. This beat all previous 
records, and it is a sign of the horticultural enterprise 
of the day that Onions reaching this great weight can 
be produced. Mr. Deverill has already put into com¬ 
merce the following fine varieties :—Rousham Park, 
Anglo-Spauish, Improved Wroxton, Ailsa Craig, and 
Cocoa Nut, but the Lord Keeper distances them all. 
