The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Part 21

When cultivated in this country, it has generally fallen short of the excellence it is represented as attaining in England. It is apparently not adapted to the dry and warm summers of the United States.

WHITE GLOBE. _Law._

Common Field Globe.

Root globular; skin smooth, perfectly white; flesh also white; neck and tap-root small. Although this description embraces the princ.i.p.al characters of the White Globe, there is considerable variety in the turnips to which this name is applied, arising from the degree of care and attention bestowed by growers in selecting their seed-roots; and the shape is often not a little affected by the soil in which they are grown. Thus Globes of any kind, and particularly those of this variety, when grown on a very superior, rich soil, may be said to be forced beyond their natural size, and thereby acquire somewhat of a monstrous or overgrown appearance; losing, in a great measure, their natural symmetry.

This variety is better adapted to field culture than to the garden, as it is altogether too coa.r.s.e in texture for table use. It is a poor keeper, and, in unfavorable seasons, sometimes decays before the time of harvesting. Specimens have been grown weighing fifteen and even eighteen pounds.

WHITE NORFOLK.

White Round.

A large English variety, somewhat irregular in form, but usually more or less compressed, and sometimes pyriform; the upper portion of the root being produced four or five inches above ground. Specimens sometimes measure ten or twelve inches in diameter. The leaves are large, and rather numerous; the skin white below the surface, and often white above, but sometimes washed with green; flesh white and coa.r.s.e-grained, but sweet. Very late.

It is but a sub-variety of the Common Flat Turnip, and oftentimes attains a most extraordinary size. For the garden, it possesses no value. It is grown exclusively as an agricultural or field turnip; but is very liable to rot; soon becomes spongy; and can only be cla.s.sed as third-rate, even for feeding stock.

WHITE STONE.

Early Stone. White Garden Stone.

This common and well-known garden turnip somewhat resembles the White Dutch; but has stronger foliage, is rounder in form, and finer in texture. A carefully selected and improved variety of this is known by the name of Mouse-tail Turnip; and, in addition, some catalogues contain varieties under the name of Red-topped Mouse-tail, &c.

Skin and flesh white; size full medium, measuring three and a half to four inches in depth by four and a half or five inches in diameter.

WHITE TANKARD.

Navet Gras d'Alsace. _Vil._

Bulb pyriform, cylindrical at the crown, which, like that of the Red Tankard, rises two or three inches from the ground; skin white in the earth, green above; flesh white, tender, sweet, rather firm, and close-grained. Early.

Vilmorin mentions two varieties; one having entire leaves, the other with lyrate or lobed leaves; giving preference, however, to the one with entire leaves.

Like most of the Tankards, the variety seems better adapted to agricultural than to horticultural purposes.

WHITE-TOP FLAT.

Bulb similar in size and form to the Green-top Flat; leaves few and small; skin uniformly white; flesh white, firm, sugary, and well flavored. As a table variety, it is superior to the Purple-top Flat or the Green-top.

WHITE-TOP STRAP-LEAVED.

This is a sub-variety of the Purple-top Strap-leaved; differing little, except in color. The leaves are erect, few and small, somewhat lanceolate, and nearly entire on the borders; the bulb is of medium size, much flattened, green above ground, white below, and remarkably smooth and regular in form; tap-root very small; the flesh is white, very fine-grained, saccharine, mild, and excellent.

Early, productive, and recommended as one of the best varieties for field or garden culture.

The Strap-leaved Turnips appear to be peculiarly adapted to the climate of the Northern States, and are greatly superior in all respects to the Common White and Purple-top Flat varieties. Though of comparatively recent introduction, they have been widely disseminated; and, wherever grown, are highly esteemed.

YELLOW MALTA. _M'Int._

Maltese. Golden Maltese.

A beautiful, very symmetrical, small-bulbed, early variety, slightly flattened above, somewhat concave about, the tap-root, which, as well as the neck, is remarkably small; skin very smooth, bright orange-yellow; foliage small, and not abundant,--on which account the plants may be grown quite close to each other; flesh pale-yellow, fine-grained, and well flavored. It is a good garden variety, and one of the best of the Yellows for summer use. Average bulbs measure two inches in depth, four inches in diameter, and weigh about ten ounces.

YELLOW SCARISBRICK.

Bulb flattened, smooth, and regular; neck small; skin pale yellow,--above ground, green; flesh yellowish-white, tender, and sweet; leaves of medium size, very pale-green. Season late. Well-grown specimens measure four inches in diameter, and about three inches in depth.

YELLOW STONE.

Very similar to the Golden Ball or Yellow Globe. Compared with these varieties, the bulb of the Yellow Stone is produced more above ground, and the upper surface is more colored with green. One of the best of garden turnips.

YELLOW TANKARD. _Vil._

Root somewhat fusiform, or of a long, irregular, tankard shape; the crown rising just above the ground. Average specimens measure seven or eight inches in length, three inches and a half in diameter, and weigh about twenty-four ounces. Skin yellowish-white below ground, green above; flesh pale yellow, firm, and sugary; leaves large. It is esteemed for the solidity of its flesh, and for its earliness and productiveness.

A good variety for either field or garden.

CHAPTER II.

ALLIACEOUS PLANTS.

The Cive. Garlic. Leek. Onion. Rocambole. Shallot. Welsh Onion.

THE CIVE.

Chive. Allium schoenoprasum.

The Cive is a hardy, bulbous-rooted, perennial plant, indigenous to France and Great Britain. The leaves, which are produced in tufts, are seven or eight inches in length, erect and cylindrical, or awl-shaped.

The bulbs are white, oval, and of small size; usually measuring about half an inch in diameter. The flower-stalk rises to the height of the leaves, and produces, at its extremity, a globular group of purplish, barren flowers.

_Propagation and Culture._--As the plant seldom, if ever, produces seeds, it is always propagated by a division of the roots, or bulbs.

These are produced in compact groups, or bunches, seven or eight inches in diameter. "One of these groups may be divided into a dozen or more parts, each of which will, in a short time, form a cl.u.s.ter equal in size to the original. They should be planted in spring or autumn, in rows eighteen inches apart, and twelve or fifteen inches asunder in the rows.

All the cultivation they require is to be kept free from weeds; and they will thrive in any common garden soil. A planting will last many years; but it is well to renew it every third or fourth year."

_Use._--The young leaves are the parts of the plant used; but, whether used or not, to keep them in a fresh and tender condition, the plants should be frequently shorn to the ground. They possess the flavor peculiar to the Onion family; and are princ.i.p.ally used in flavoring soups, and as an ingredient in spring salads. The leaves and bulbs are sometimes taken together, and eaten crude, as a subst.i.tute for young onions. In omelets, the Cive is considered almost indispensable.