The Canadian Horticulturist. 143 



HOW TO GROW ONIONS. 



.< NIONS delight in a rich sandy loam, not too light but porous and 

 friable and free from stones. The preparation of an onion field 

 should begin in the fall. Put on good dressing of stable manure 

 and plow it under and leave it until next spring. How much stable 

 dung to be used cannot be defined here. It depends on the nature 

 and quality of the land. It is well enough to say let the application 

 be liberal, yet there is a limit, when an excess of it may do no harm, 

 neither will the crop be benefited thereby. The following spring, as soon as 

 the ground can be worked, plow again, but shallow. Broadcast some special 

 fertilizer, about 1,500 pounds to the acre. Mix it well with the surface by har- 

 rowing thoroughly, and finish with a smoothing harrow to make it as even as a 

 board. If the land be stony, the stones must be raked off by hand. If it be 

 intended to follow onion growing as a special crop, it will be well to buy a regular 

 table seed drill, one that will sow two rows at a time. The one I have refer- 

 ence to sows the rows twelve inches apart. The seed cups are placed between 

 two wheels, which are six inches from the centre of the cups, the wheels thus 

 serving as markers. After sowing roll down the seed- As soon as the seeds 

 are sufficiently up to show the rows, go through them, either with a shuffle hoe 

 or a wheel hoe. I prefer the former. When plants are large enough to handle, 

 thin out to one or two inches. It is not necessary for me to say to keep down 

 weeds, which is best done by going through them with the hoe after every rain. 

 If sown early enough the onions should be ready to pull in the forepart of 

 August. Should they not ripen fast enough, hasten them by breaking down 

 with the back of a wooden rake. When you are satisfied that the onions have 

 stopped growing, do not delay to pull them, which is best done during a dry 

 spell. Lay them in long rows and leave in the field until perfectly dry. Give 

 them an occasional stirring, and house as soon as dry enough. — Farm and Home. 



Potting" Cacti. — When potting cacti, all dried roots should be trimmed 

 off ; use plenty of sand and charcoal, but little or no water, and roots will form 

 soon. Plenty of sunshine and very little water is the treatment cacti like. 

 February or March is the most suitable time for re-potting, although this may be 

 done at all times of the year. The soil should neither be damp nor dust dry. 

 When the plants are turned out of the pots, shake most of the soil from the 

 roots. See that the roots are spread out and the pots well drained. A handful 

 of sand put directly under the plant will be found very beneficial. Use pots 

 large enough to hold the roots comfortably for all globular varieties. Larger 

 pots are necessary for rapid growing sorts, such as cereuses. Many cacti fail to 

 bloom for a season after re-potting. — Farm and Home. 



