EEPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 285 



bank — the compost heap — for resources to continue business for a term of 

 years. 



Tlie onion must have a clean and a very rich, fine soil. Use well-rotted 

 manure freely, and be sure to get the seed in as early as possible in the spring. 

 Thin out early, and keep tlie soil mellow and clear of weeds. Sow in shallow 

 drills not less than a foot apart (using a seed drill if at hand), and thin out 

 when the onions are about the size of quills. In doing this disturb those that 

 remain as little as possible. As onions grow on top of the ground they may 

 be allowed to grow pretty thick, no matter if they crowd each other. In hoe- 

 ing to destroy weeds and keep the ground mellow, do not cover the young 

 bulbs with earth. Four }iounds of seed are usually required for an acre. Most 

 of the seed drills have a place in the bottom of the feed box. No. 4 usually 

 sowing four pounds of seed to the acre, No. 5 five pounds, etc. When large 

 onions are wanted they should be thinned to six inches apart in the rows. 

 Cover seed one-half inch deep. As soon as the onions are up so the rows may 

 be followed, give them the first hoeing by a slight skimming of the surface 

 between the rows. In a few days the second hoeing must be done, followed by 

 weeding. This operation must be thoroughly done; the earth should be loos- 

 ened around each plant, in order to kill small weeds that are too small to be 

 seen. This operation should be repeated once in ten days or two weeks during 

 May, June, and July. If well kept there will be but few weeds to be seen in 

 August, but stirring the earth between rows while growing will be beneficial 

 and will increase growth. When the tops die and fall the crop should be pulled 

 and spread evenly on the ground to dry. When thoroughly dry cut off tops 

 one-half inch from bulb and spread in a dry place protected from the sun, 

 where they can remain until marketed or placed in their winter quarters. 



How to keep onions through the winter is a subject open for discussion. 

 There are many known methods. It seems to be conceded by all that there are 

 several conditions that must be complied with if we would look for success. 

 Freezing and thawing during the winter will surely entail loss. When kept in 

 warm cellars in houses they have failed to keep well. The most successful way 

 of keeping them is to spread on shelves or shallow bins in cool cellars, where a 

 continuous temperature can be maintained of SO'' to 40° F. The essentials 

 for the preservation of onions are dryness, thorough ventilation, and freedom 

 from frosts. 



A good way to keep other roots through winter is to bury them in pits; 

 cover with straw and dirt with two alternate layers, each four inches thick. 

 If wanted during the wMnter they may be placed in a cellar bottom ; cover 

 them over with moist sand, sawdust, or dirt. They can be taken out at any 

 time in a fresh condition. To keep cabbage through the winter, select a side 

 hill, dig a trench 18 inches wide and 12 inches deep down hill. If the sides 

 incline to cave, lay in boards to maintain trench. Lay straw in bottom of 

 trench. Take off the rough outside leaves. Set the cabbages in trench roots 

 up, crowd them in closely, with straw around them as high as roots ; lay poles 

 or rails along each side to raise up above roots, if necessary. Lay stringers 

 crosswise to receive a board covering. The covering may be removed during 

 winter if needed for use. 



Soil for vegetable gardening should be composed of a variety of soils. While 

 nature with all her generosity has given us the varieties we need lor all pur- 

 poses., yet we don't find it laid down where we want it under all circumstances 

 We often find our lot cast on soil that is not suitable for gardening purposes. 

 When we find ourselves thus located on a cold clay soil that is too level to under. 



