March, 1910 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



65 



HoAv to Grow Large Onions 



A. V. Main, Almonte, Ontario 



LET us outline briefly the culture of 

 transplanted onions and their value 

 in comparison with the ordinary 

 method of sowing outdoors. The crop 

 is decidedly better, because the plants 

 have two extra months' growth, being 

 sown generally in March. There is also 

 less loss of seed and the extra labor is 

 not worth considering. This idea of 

 transplanting, however, not only with 

 onions but other plants, looks a useless 

 and unnecessary process to many ama- 

 teurs and market gardeners. Trans- 

 planting is done when we are not so 

 l)usy, and a plant that is set out with 



equal parts of old manure, loam and leaf- 

 soil, adding a little sand and wood ashes, 

 to be visible in the compost when mixed. 

 Use boxes about five inches deep of con- 

 venient size. Cover the bottom with 

 some rough manure, then fill to within 

 an inch of the top. Make the soil firm 

 and a level surface by using a smooth 

 board, with a handle attached. A level 

 surface "is imperative for small seeds. 

 Sow thinly, give each seed a "five-cent" 

 space. Thoroughly saturate the "soil 

 with a fine sprinkling can. Place in hot- 

 bed, greenhouse or your seed raising 

 quarters, and cover with brown paper. 



^.•* # 4^ ^ Ai4r 



■ Leaminiton Giant Onion, an En(li>h Variety, that yields a Heavy Crop of Larie Bnlbs 



\ The specimens illustrated were grown in the gardens of Mr. B. Rosamond, "Pinehur.st," Al- 

 ?monte, Ont., by his head gardener, Mr. A. V. Main. They averaged one and one-quarter pounds 

 .each. 



fine fibrous roots, healthy and vigorous, 

 has no comparison at all with a weak, 

 spindly, stunted, lop-sided plant with 

 scarcely a root, culled from a box 

 amongst hundreds, the one supporting 

 the other. 



A good open position is the first con- 

 sideration. It must be well drained 

 and clear of trees, hedges or buildings, 

 as shade, want of sun and wet ground 

 are causes of thick-necked onions. Select 

 good rich soil, moderately heavy. Pre- 

 pare the ground in the fall, digging or 

 plowing deeply and giving a heavy dress- 

 ing of horse, cow or poultry manure. It 

 takes a couple of seasons to get ground 

 into onion condition. With the yearly 

 application of manure, farm and artifi- 

 cial, the ground will grow splendid 

 onions for six or seven years, then a 

 change of crop such as celery should 

 follow for two seasons. 



sow SEED THIS MONTH. 



Sow the seed in February if conven- 

 ient, or at least early in March. Sift 



to retain moisture and darkness before 

 germination moves. 



The young plants must be kept to the 

 light and aired to be sturdy. Sprinkle 

 overhead on sunny days and keep the 

 roots moist. For exceptionally large 

 specimen onions, transplant into other 

 boxes of rich soil two inches apart, each 

 way. If this method of "raising onions 

 early" is to be carried out extensively, 

 the seed may be sown in hotbeds to have 

 a quantity for planting a large area. 



Gradually harden off to the weather 

 outdoors, making preparations to plant 

 early in May. The need for hardening 

 off plants to the outside weather is much 

 neglected or unforeseen by many. 

 Onions suffer if not properly looked after 

 in this respect. 



VARIETIES. 



The variety that I grow is an English 

 one, Leamington Giant, yellow, consid- 

 ered the largest onion in cultivation. The 

 writer of this note can supply any in- 

 formation for seed. I have treated other 



varieties from Canadian firms such as 

 Giant Prizetaker, Southport, White 

 Globe, Red Wethersfield and others, but 

 so far none are so satisfactory as the 

 one illustrated on this page. Onions of 

 this type command a high price, have a 

 ready market, are good for exhibition 

 purposes and culinary use, have mild 

 flavor and reliable keeping qualities. 



Growing Cauliflower Plants 



A. Knight, Kingston, Ont. 



To be successful in growing cauli- 

 flower plants, there are three essential 

 things to be followed: i. Proper soil, 

 which should be of the very best obtain- 

 able — a loose, mellow soil made rich with 

 fine rotted manure, one that will remain 

 loose and keep moist ; it cannot be too 

 fine, for the finer the more rootlets the 

 plants will have, and the more soil will 

 adhere to them when plants are taken up. 

 2. The seed, which should be the best 

 to be had. 3. Care in growing the 

 plants. 



If plants are required for early crop, 

 seed should be sown by first of March in 

 a greenhouse or properly made hotbed. 

 The seed bed should not be too warm 

 but of proper warmth to keep plants 

 growing healthy. Plant the seed about 

 one-half an inch deep, and not too thick, 

 as thick planting makes plants too fine, 

 and they are more apt to damp off. The 

 bed requires plenty of fresh air on warm 

 days to make stocky plants. 



As soon as the plants are large enough, 

 that is, well out in second leaf, which 

 should be in three weeks after sowing, 

 transplant them into a new bed, which 

 should be made a few days before 

 needed. 



If plants are wanted for extra early, 

 it is better to pot them in fair sized pots, 

 as by doing so you can plant in the field 

 a larger plant, and not check growth. 

 Great care must be taken to prevent any 

 serious check ; for plants are apt to have 

 \ery small heads or "'button up" as it is 

 termed, if any serious check occurs in 

 growth. 



For late crop, seed is better sown in 

 outdoor ground. Plant not too deep, in 

 warmest and best soil you have. Thin 

 out the plants while small to make good 

 stocky plants. Watch for cabbage fly, 

 .ind dust plants often. 



The soil for blackberries must be well 

 drained, and it should be a strong loam. 



A.sparagus, that daintiest of spring 

 vegetables, is as easily grown in Saskat- 

 chewan as is the indispensable rhubarb. 



Rhubarb has been the standby for the 

 western farmers' table ; but it is being 

 suplemented by many of the small fruits 

 that respond to fair treatment in the 

 western climate, such as currants, goose- 

 berries, strawberries and raspberries. 



