THE CIVE.
Chive. Allium schœnoprasum.
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 cluster 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 principally used in flavoring soups, and as an ingredient in spring salads. The leaves and bulbs are sometimes taken together, and eaten crude, as a substitute for young onions. In omelets, the Cive is considered almost indispensable.
There are no varieties.
COMMON GARLIC.
Allium sativum.
This is a perennial plant, from the south of Europe. The root is composed of from ten to fifteen small bulbs, called "cloves," which are enclosed in a thin, white, semi-transparent skin, or pellicle. The leaves are long and narrow. The flower-stem is cylindrical, about eighteen inches in height, and terminates in an umbel, or group, of pale-pink flowers, intermixed with small bulbs. The seeds are black, and, in form, irregular; but are seldom employed for propagation; the cloves, or small bulbs, succeeding better.