Occupations > Abercrombie's improved practical gardener; with a monthly calendar for the flower garden

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GARLIC.
This is a hardy perennial bulbous-rooted plant,
with long linear narrow leaves. It has a com¬
pound root of from ten to fifteen subordinate
bulbs, called cloves. It flowers in June and
July.
Use.
It is cultivated for the sake of its bulb, which is
used for various purposes; generally only for a
short time, being introduced into the dish while
cooking, and taken out again after a sufficient
degree of flavour has been imparted.
Propagation.
Garlic does best in a light, dry, rich, but not
tecently manured, soil. A fresh hazel loam,
newly broken up, suits it best, as on such it runs
fine, and worms and grubs do not infest it, such
ground being generally clear and clean. Plant¬
ing may be done any time from the beginning of
February to the beginning of April, and the bulbs
will do equally well. Having some good large
roots, divide them into separate cloves or subor¬
dinate bulbs, plant them singly in rows eight
inches asunder, and the same distance in the
row, and an inch deep. Plant them in holes with
a blunt-ended dibble, dropping the clove to the
bottom, and when the whole is planted rake the
ground even to cover in the holes. The plants
are soon up, and must be kept clear from weeds.