SOME ONIONS 



THE Potato Onion is not largely cultivated in some 

 parts of the kingdom ; in others it is a great favourite, 

 especially in small gardens, and more so in the southern 

 part of the kingdom. It is called the Underground 

 Onion also, and as regards culture it somewhat resembles 

 the Shallot, but is distinct. All the three varieties here 

 described are different from the ordinary kinds, and they 

 are useful as they rarely fail. The small bulbs of the 

 Potato variety are planted singly, and in warm situations, 

 such as Devon or Cornwall, it is usually the rule to 

 plant on the shortest day and take up the crop on the 

 longest ; but this rule does not hold good in heavy land 

 or cold situations, as March would be early enough to 

 plant and August to lift. The bulbs are planted in 

 well-manured land, in rows 1 8 inches apart and half 

 that distance between the plants ; the soil is made fairly 

 firm previous to planting, and the bulbs are pressed 

 down in the soil and made firm. The plant or old 

 bulb forms clusters of young bulbs round the old one, 

 and when extra fine roots are desired, it is a good plan 

 to place spent manure between the rows or feed with 

 liquid manure or a quick acting fertiliser. By mulching 

 or earthing up when the growths are a good size, the 

 plant is induced to form better clusters, and at that time 

 there should be no lack of moisture till the young bulbs 

 are full sized, and only withheld as they begin to ripen. 

 When stored they will remain sound a long time if 

 placed in a cool airy store. This variety is not raised 

 from seed, and it is more valuable for early supplies 

 than later, as the other varieties are then more plentiful. 



