New Yobk Agricultural Experiment Station. 207 
C. Bulb red. 
No. 53. PEAR-SHAPED, Burr; Vil. 
Syn. Fr., Ognon piriforme, Ben., '86; VIL. : O. piriforme rouge, A. de 
CI. : Ger., Birn-Zwiebel, Vil. : Frankische lange Z., Vil. : Rothgelbe 
lange Birn-Z., A. de CI. 
Very similar to the Pear-Shaped White except in its color, which is 
copper red; well developed samples in. diameter, 4| in. through 
the axis; bulb firm, keeps well; of good quality, but late. 
Correctly figured in Les pi. pot,, p. 388; Veg. Gar., p. 371. 
No. 54. PYRAMID OR VESUVIUS, Till., '85. 
Bulb oval, often tapering slightly to both ends; dull pale red, 
second coat rather rich glossy purple, sometimes shading to nearly 
white below, inner coats pure white or cream tinted; well developed 
samples measure 2\ in. in both directions; neck and root circles rather 
large; outer coat thick, brittle, somewhat adhesive; bulb very soft, 
and a poor keeper; — foliage rather scanty. 
No. 55. POTATO ONION, Brill; Burr; Hen.; Veg. Gar.; Vil.; White. 
Syn. Underground onion, Burr: Fr., Ognon patate, VIL. : O. sous 
terre, Vil. : Ger., Kartoffelzwiebel, Vil. ; Holl., Aradappel Uie, Vil. 
Distinct in producing neither seed nor bnlblets on the stalks, but 
instead the bulb set into the ground in spring divides into 4 to 10 
cloves or bulbs of varying size. These when well developed are 2^ to 
3 in. in diameter, and 1J-2 in. through the axis; copper yellow, with 
a rather thick skin; mild and sweet. 
The earliest dry onions are usually obtained from this variety. It 
does not keep well, but is said to keep best when the tops are cut off 
two or three inches above the bulb at the time of harvesting. 
Correctly figured in Vick's catalogue, 1883, and later years. 
No. 56. TOP ONION. 
In 1883 a few bulbs bearing the above name were purchased at a seed 
store, from which the plants differed in some respects from either the 
Egyptian or Catawissa onion as described by Vilmorin, though they chiefly 
resembled the latter. They produced bulblets at the top of the stem, and 
some of these produced secondary bulblets. But in addition to these 
flowers and seeds were also formed, the peduncles growing out from 
between the bulblets. With the exception of the latter peculiarity the resem- 
blance to Vilmorin 's description of the Catawissa onion was quite close. 
The seeds from some of the plants were planted the following spring. 
They germinated and produced bulbs of fair size, which formed neither 
seeds nor bulblets on the top of their leaves. The bulbs were copper 
colored, about 2 in. in diameter and about the same through the axis, 
