flowers.

_Propagation and Culture._--It is propagated by planting either the
underground bulbs, or the small cloves, or bulbs, that are produced upon
the stem of the plant. These should be set in April, in drills ten
inches apart, and four or five inches asunder in the drills. In the
following August they will have attained their full size, and may be
used immediately; or they may be taken up, spread to dry, tied in
bunches, and housed, for future consumption. All the culture required is
the removal of weeds, and the occasional stirring of the soil.

_Use._--"The cloves, or small bulbs, as well those from the stem as
those beneath the surface of the ground, are used in the manner of
shallots and garlics, and nearly for the same purposes."

There is but one variety.

* * * * *

SHALLOT.

Allium Ascalonicum.

The Shallot (sometimes written Eschalot) is a native of Palestine,--the
specific term "Ascalonicum" being derived from Ascalon, a town in Syria:
hence also the popular English name, "Scallion."

The root of the plant is composed of numerous small bulbs, united at
their base; the whole being enclosed in a thin skin, or pellicle,
varying in color in the different varieties. Leaves fistulous, or
hollow, produced in tufts, or groups; flowers reddish, in terminal,
compact, spherical bunches. The plants, however, very seldom blossom.

_Soil._--"The soil best adapted for growing the Shallot is a light,
rich, sandy loam; but, as such soils are scarce, any light, dry soil
that has been cultivated and manured a year or two will answer." In wet
soils, it is liable to be attacked by the maggot; and such location
should, therefore, be avoided.

_Propagation and Culture._--The roots of the Shallot, which are bulbous,
are very readily increased by offsets. The bulbs are oblong, but
somewhat irregular in their form, and seldom attain a large size. As
they increase into clusters, they do not swell like roots that grow
singly.

They are propagated by dividing these clustered roots into separate
offsets, and planting the divisions in April, in very shallow drills one
foot apart; placing them about six inches apart in the drills, and
covering them lightly with earth. Soot mixed with the surface-soil has
been found of much service to prevent the maggot from committing
extensive depredations upon this plant. The only after-culture required
is that of keeping them clean from weeds, and occasion