The Delaware farmer., 1883-10-26
AGRICULTURAL.
Notes on the History of Vegetables.
PLANTS OF THE ONION TRIBE.

IL
as being good Tor soup It is often called escha.
lot. and sometimes scalliOn, which are evidently
cOrruptons of AscalOn. II was introduced INTO
England in 154S-
On account of the midness Of its flavor it is
preferred by good cooks to another of the onion
tribe as seasoner for soups and sIews. It is
also used raw, chopped fine and sprinkled over
chops steaks, ETC., and also as an Ingredient in
salads. It makes good pickle; and a useful,
favored vinegar Is made by putting half a dozen
cloves of it into quart bottle OF vinegar.
GARLIC is a native OF the South Of Europe and
was cultivated in England prior to 1913. From
the earliest ages It has been used in medicine; /;
the roots being administered IN the first stages
of dropsy as a warm tonic. Il was also used
as a resolvent in smallpox, by applying the
chopped roots. tied il linen cloth and applied 20
the soes of the feet, about the eighth day OF the
disease, renewing il every day until the danger
was over When the doctrine Of signatures was
in vogue as given an indication Of the medicinal
value Of plant it was said: THE seed Of the
Garlic is black it darkens the eyes with black
ness and Obscurity. This is to be understood OF
healthy eyes. Butthose which are dull through
vicious humidity. from these garlic drives that
YiciOusneSs away. The tunic OF garlic is ruddy:
It expels blood. II has hollow stalk, and It
helps aSt ct0ns OF the wind pipe" At the pres.
ent day, in many parts OF Europe it is considered
remedy against worms. The cloves OF it be.
ing steeped in whiskey, and dose given to the
patient, tasting, every morning. Weare inclined
to think that there may be some efficacy in this
7
burger cheese, strong whiSkey, and garlic, at
one dose, if any intestinal worm can stand that,
the materia medca is pOwerless as against them. |
In many parts of Europe It is eaten raw, and /
some persons become so infatuated in its use as
to become excessively aisagreeahle to those
VITO have the slightest sense Of smell. Their
whole body becomes saturated with its odor,
and the efluvia from such persons is something |
skunk.li1e. In cooking it is only used to give
Slight fl4vOring to certain dishes. IL enters into
the composition Of Bologna sausages, and OF
some table sauces.
RocANBoLE is a native Of Denmark and north
of Europe. and was introduced INTO England,
prior tO 1896.
THE LEE6 is without doubt native of the East,
as it is known to have been cultivated in Egypt
during the times OF the Pharaohs. Besides the
scriptural mention Of it, Piny states that the
best leeks were brought from Egypt, and says
that the Emperor Nero brought them iuto grea,
notice. The Welsh used it as a badge in com.
memoratOn OF a victory they won over the Sax
OnS in the sixth century. Having worn it by or.
der OF their tutelar saint. St. DAVID to distin-
Ruished themselves in the battle; SO that it must
have been a common vegetable among them at
that time.
In cooking it is largely used for soups and =
stews. The stems when we'll blanched are also
used boiled and served up like asparagus with
toasted bread and white sauce.
CHIREs are native Of England. The young
leaves are used, chopped fine, in salads, soups,
stews, omeets, and sprnkcd over beef steaks
Just when taken of the fire and served at table.
The ONION is probably the Oldest vegetable
known, and is undoubtedly native OF the East
and has been brought with man in his migra-
ton westward from the centre OF distribution of
population in Central Asia. 1t is what some
" uld call a prehistoric" plant. And here we
would digresS from our subject and say, that
this term prehistoric" is applied by a certain
class OF scientists to support a theory of theirs,
that men whose remains and implements we
find in caves and similar places existed ages be-
tore the Mosaic history OF men. This theory we
consider may very readily be exploited. Some
nations Ur races Of men may be nOn-hiStOric, as
leaving no history OF themselves behind them,
but this does not make them prehistoric, or
grove that they existed before nations or races
who have had history. But by this audacy
If expression this class of scientists think they
IAN dogmatize men into the adoption or their
heory, and they do succeed with u certain class
# half educated people. But TO return to our
'niOns, although they are used universally by
III civilized nations, yet some people have said
III manner of evil Things against them. As for
Instance the author OF the "Gryte Herbal" a
-ery old book says: "The onion being eaten,
ea, though it be boiled, causeth headache,
urteth the eyes, and maketh man dm-sighted;
ulleth the senses, engendereth windness, and
rOyOketh Overmuch sleep. especially being eat
q raw. Being raw, they nOurish not at all, and
ut little though they be boiled." What
emOn of a vegetable it must be, if all this is
rue.
The onion Of all things, has a place in poetry.
says:
''If the boy have not wOman's gift
To rain a shower Of commanded tears,
An onion will do well.'
And Dean Swift says:
'This is every cooks opinion,
No savoury dish without an onion;
But lest your kissing should be spoiled,
Your onions should be thoroughly boiled"
As to cooking onions, everybody who under
ands ANYTHING about cooking, knows how to