SOWING AND PLANTING 83 



in April in rows 18 inches apart and plants 12 inches 

 apart in the row, are ' Ailsa Craig,' ' Cranston's Ex- 

 celsior,' and ' Southampton Champion '. Lift and 

 plant with a trowel. 



Autumn-sown onions are larger and earlier than 

 spring-sown and are considered almost proof against 

 the fly. 



The approximate time for sowing is the first week in 

 August. 



Sow thinly in rows 1 foot apart, do not thin out or 

 transplant till the following March ; then thin to 3 

 inches apart, afterwards to 6 inches apart, using the 

 thinnings for home use. 



In regard to transplanting of autumn-sown onions, 

 the results of a number of experiments showed the 

 yield in weight to be as four to five in favour of non- 

 transplanting. But the percentage going to seed was 

 considerably less in the transplanted than the non- 

 transplanted, being as two to three. 



A good crop would be from 4 to 6 bushels from a pole 

 of ground. 



The following out of thirty varieties sown in the 

 autumn gave good results : * James's Long-keeping ', 

 ' Deptford ', ' White Spanish ', * Cranston's Excelsior', 

 ' Giant Eocca', ' Giant Zittau', and 'A 1 '. 



Almost any variety of onion- can be grown for pickling 

 if the seed is sown thickly close up to a row of peas and 

 not thinned. 



Parsnip. The ground for parsnips should be well 

 trenched or deeply dug in the winter ; and if any stable 

 manure is added put it at least 12 inches deep in the 

 trench. 



Before sowing the seed, which can be done from 



