ALLEAUME (_Early Alleaume_, _Dwarf Alleaume_).--This variety, originated by an intelligent market gardener of Paris; was, according to the originator, one of the best for cultivation under frames. Cultivated there in the open ground, that is to say, sown in June and planted out in July, it has given remarkably good results. It is a little below medium height, and has a very short stem. Its oblong leaves are of a light grayish green. The head is of medium size, very white, fine grained, of first quality, and early. It is a variety of great promise. This is the statement of the editor of _Revue Horticole_ in 1884. In 1888, Mr. Sutton, of England, calls it a distinct, dwarf, compact, French variety, having creamy-white heads, and coming in after Sutton's Favorite. In 1890, Vilmorin quotes it as a very early dwarf, short-stemmed variety, especially good for forcing. In 1885, W. A. Burpee offered an "Extra Early Alleaume," which he described as "stem very short, leaves long, _entire_ or _very little lobated_, of a grayish-green color, forming a close protection to the head, which is large, fine grained and pure white." This is probably the same variety as above. ALMA (_Waite's Alma_).--Hackett sells this as a new English variety of large size, firm, and surpassing in excellence the Walcheren. There was, however, a variety named Alma, probably the same, growing at Paris in 1857 (see _Jour. Cent. Soc. Hort. France_, 1857, p. 422). In 1865 Waite's Alma was considered by some to be merely the Early London, and by others to be the same as Walcheren; at least, seeds of these two varieties had been sent out for it. AMERICAN.--Seed of a very early variety bearing this name was sent by William Ingell, of Oswego County, New York, to the editor of the _Country Gentleman_, in 1861. Mr. Ingell, who named the variety, does not state whether he grew the seed or not. In 1889, Bailey's "Annals of Horticulture" contained the name "American," with _American Beauty_ as synonym. ANCIENT LENORMAND, see _Lenormand_.