PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 69 



purpose. The old yellow rauskmelon has give place to the better 

 green sorts, among which are Netted Citron, Skillman's and Allen's 

 Netted, Persian and Japan, all good varieties. Among the water- 

 melons, the Spanish, Mountain Sweet and Long Green, are desiral)]e 

 sorts. These cucurbitaceous plants are liable to become hybridized 

 by bees and insects if grown together, hence it is best to plant 

 each sort by itself. 



Onions are raised from three kinds of seed or bulbs, viz : the 

 ordinary Black Seed, the Top onion, where each small bulb grows 

 to a large one, and the Potato onion, where the bulb cracks or 

 splits open as it grows and forms two to four bulbs in a cluster. 

 The soil for onions should be made very fine and rich, worked 

 deep, and if lime, ashes or salt be freely incorporated with the 

 soil, the maggots will be less troublesome. Rake the ground to 

 remove stones, lumps of dirt, &c.; and sow about the middle of 

 April in drills one foot apart, covering one-half inch and thin to 

 four inches. The Red and White Globe are among the best sorts. 

 The Potato and Top onions may be set out at the same time in 

 rows one foot apart and four inches distant, just covering the 

 crown. They will be fit for pulling in July, and may be entirely 

 removed in August for late turnips or cabbages. In common with 

 other vegetables, they should be kept free from weeds. The Top 

 and Potato sorts may be grown where the maggot destroys those 

 raised from the seed. Hot water poured along the row from the 

 spout of a tea-kettle is the best remedy for the worms when at 

 work. 



Parsneps require a dee]) rich soil in which to perfect them- 

 selves. Grown in a muck swamp, they attain the length of two 

 feet and more. Cover the thin seeds one half inch, sowing from 

 the middle of April to the middle of May, in drills eighteen 

 inches apart, and thin to six inches. They are improved by 

 freezing in the soil, hence after digging what are w\inted during 

 the winter, leave the rest in the ground until spring. The Sugar 

 or Hollow Crown is the best sort. 



Peas are in such great variety, it is difficult to make a selection. 

 Two, or at most, three sorts are sufficient for ordinary farmers. 

 The Daniel O'Rourke, or Prince Albert will answer a good pur- 

 pose for the first early, after wliich we want nothing better, if 

 indeed a better pea can be found, than Champion of England. If 

 not convenient to stake or bush, sow Bishop's Dwarf. Tom 

 Thumb, or Strawberry ; but the tall varieties well repay bushing. 



