1869.] HOW TO GROW ONIONS. 91 



may be used ; after which spread the soil taken from the surface over 

 the top of the manure. When thus prepared, give the whole a coating 

 of strong salt in the proportion of 1 lb. of salt to 4 square yards. A 

 little leaf-mould or rotten turf pointed into the ground immediately 

 before planting would be useful in starting and rooting the plants. 

 However, care must be taken, while this is being done, not to allow 

 the manure to be buried too deep by the digging; nevertheless, it 

 should be thoroughly mixed with the soil near the surface. Dung 

 buried only 2 or 3 inches deep will produce a much better crop 

 of Onions than if it were buried 8 or 10 inches. Many may be disin- 

 clined to believe this, but they have only to make one fair trial to 

 become convinced. Every horticulturist and agriculturist knows well 

 that the roots of plants grow towards the manure ; consequently, if the 

 manure is deep, the roots of the plants will be deep also, and will in 

 that way, to a very great extent, lose the benefit of the influence of the 

 heat of the sun. On the other hand, when the dung is near to the 

 top, the roots will not be far from it ; and thus the plants will have 

 aU the advantages derived from the manure, as well as those from the 

 heat and gases of the atmosphere, so essential to the growth of the 

 plant. In planting out the Onions, knock them out of the pots, taking 

 care not to break the balls. Plant them in rows, at least 14 inches 

 apart and 9 inches between each plant, placing the under-side of the 

 heads of the Onions on a level with the surface ; then put a stake to 

 each of them, and draw up the earth with a hoe on each side of the 

 rows, and thus form ridges for the Onions to grow in. When the heads 

 begin to develop, the ridges may be levelled and the stakes removed ; 

 then give another coating of salt in the proportion of J lb. to 4 square 

 yards. In dry weather give them a good watering at least once a-week. 

 The water may be mixed with old urine in the proportion of one of urine 

 to ten of water. In moist weather one of urine to five of water may 

 safely be used. When urine is not to be had, -J lb. of the best guano 

 may be sown every three weeks, on a wet day, over 6 square yards of 

 ground, prepared as aforesaid. In the absence of rain, use the water- 

 ing-can with the rose on, so as to clean the plants of the guano and 

 wash a portion of it into the soil. Some prefer using the guano in a 

 liquid state, but I have always been most successful with it when used 

 in the way of top-dressing. Those who have not prepared their Onion- 

 ground in the autumn, can do so yet in the way recommended, taking 

 care to use no manure but that which is thoroughly rotten ; and instead 

 of using 1 lb. of salt to 4 square yards, use now only half that 

 quantity. 



In proof of the advantages of growing Onions in the way referred to, 

 I may mention that I grew one Onion of the Santa Anna Madeira 



