234 FIVE ACKES TOO MUCH. 



have all they wanted, and the residue did not seem 

 to have a positive market value, Patrick vainly offer 

 ing them at any price to every market-man in Flush 

 ing ; so it was evident that we should not require as 

 many the ensuing season. 



Onions are rather a pretty vegetable, and grateful 

 for the least care. They grow readily ; in fact, like 

 the would-be &quot;butcher boy,&quot; they are bound to do it. 

 They come up so well that they come clear up above 

 ground in their effort, and show their luscious yellow 

 or white bulbs above the surface. When these first 

 began to swell I proceeded to earth them over, fear 

 ing lest their nakedness should expose them to in 

 jury ; but, as the plot devoted to their service was 

 rather large, and Patrick utterly refused to assist me, 

 being invariably too busy whenever I called upon 

 him to help cover the onions, and insisting that &quot; they 

 didn t nade it at all, at all, and that it was ruinin 

 them I was intirely,&quot; I finally abandoned the attempt. 

 It was some time ere my fears for the result were 

 removed, and the discovery made that onions could 

 take care of themselves. It is a pity egg-plants do 

 not grow as obstinately as onions ; they do not, how 

 ever, nor do most other good things. 



Peas are a profitable crop that is, if they are not 

 dwarfs, or do not go to leaf, as ours did ; and there 



