T28 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



immediately after watering, they will be too soft and muddy. Boxes are best 

 watered by dipping them entirely under water, sufficiently to cover the earth, 

 and hold them under until the air stops bubbling out of them. Then lift them 

 out and lay them on their sides to drain till wanted. To take the plants out of 

 the boxes, use a small steel spade : the blade should be thin and without rivets 

 four inches long, three and one-fourth inches wide at the bottom, and three 

 and three-fourth inches wide at the top ; with handle about two feet long. 

 The bottom and two sides should be ground to a sharp knife edge. With this 

 spade begin at one end of the box and cut out one plant at a time, with all the 

 earth attached to it. If the plants are to be taken out of cold frames, knock 

 the frames to pieces and commence at one end with the small spade ; open up 

 a face along the side of the plants, then run the spade down squarely on the 

 other three sides ; then run the spade in flat under the plant and lift it out. 

 The lump of soil at the root should be about four inches square at the top and 

 about three and a-half inches square at the bottom, and about five inches deep. 

 If cut larger the earth will be too heavy to cling to the roots. Set them close 

 together in a flat broad box, to be wheeled or drawn to the planting ground. 

 When they are taken out to plant, care should be taken to avoid, as much as 

 possible, shaking the earth from the roots. Set the plants in the furrow pre- 

 pared for them, three feet apart. If the land is very rich, or contains consider- 

 able muck, set the plants three and a-half feet apart. Lay the plants down on 

 their sides, with the tops leaning to the north. Now raise the plant partly up, 

 and, with a hand hoe, pull in enough earth under the plant on the north side. 

 Then drop the plant, no matter if it does lay on the ground, and fill the soil 

 around the roots until the lump at the root is about one inch below the surface. 

 Press the soil firmly around the roots with your foot and the work is done. An 

 acre of land planted 5 ft. x 3 ft. will take 2904 plants. 



As the above way of planting has not been practised by anyone (as far as I 

 am aware) but myself, it is only right and fair that I should give my reason for 

 the practice. (To be continued. ) 



St Mary's, Ont. S. H. Mitchell. 



Pickling" Onions. — Take none but the small button variety, and select 

 them as nearly one size as possible. First throw them into warm water ; this 

 will tend to fix the volatile principle, and prevent the eyes being affected while peel- 

 ing them. As fast as they are peeled place in a strong brine, to which has been 

 added a very little alum ; this will shorten the fibre, rendering them very brittle, 

 without affecting the taste in the least. Allow them to soak in this solution for 

 twenty-four hours, then place on the fire and boil one minute. Another good 

 plan is to throw them into milk and water as fast as peeled ; from this they are 

 drained and placed in a jar, pouring hot brine over them ; cover up close, and 

 allow to stand twenty-four hours, then drain and dry in a cloth, and place i- cold 

 vinegar containing a few blades of bruised ginger, some peppercorns, a little 

 mace and horse-radish. Keep always covered with vinegar, cork or cover the jar 

 close, and keep in a cool, dry place. 



