CHIVASSO

chivasso, a town and episcopal see of piedmont, italy, in the province of turin, 18 m. n.e. by rail from the town of turin, 600 ft. above sea-level. pop. (1901) 4169 (town), 9804 (commune). it is situated on the left bank of the po, near the influx of the orco. the cathedral is of the 15th century with a fine facade ornamented with statues in terra-cotta. it was an important fortress in the middle ages, and until 1804, when the french dismantled it. one tower only of the old castle of the marquesses of monferrato, who possessed the town from 1164 to 1435, remains. chivasso is on the main line from turin to milan, and is the junction of branches for aosta and casale monferrato. chive (_allium schoenoprasum_), a hardy perennial plant, with small narrow bulbs tufted on short root-stocks and long cylindrical hollow leaves. it is found in the north of england and in cornwall, and growing in rocky pastures throughout temperate and northern europe and asiatic russia, and also in the mountain districts of southern europe. it is cultivated for the sake of its leaves, which are used in salads and soups as a substitute for young onions. it will grow in any good soil, and is propagated by dividing the roots into small clumps in spring or autumn; these are planted from 8 to 12 in. apart and soon form large tufts. the leaves should be cut frequently so as to obtain them tender and succulent.