128 Commercial Gardening 



Seed is sown usually the " White Tripoli" in July in drills about 

 9 or 10 in. apart by means of the drill; and besides a little hoeing in 

 late summer, they require and receive no further attention. Those Onions 

 that have grown very freely from any cause are sometimes wholly de- 

 stroyed by a severe frost say 25 degrees of frost; so the object kept in 

 view is to have them well grown before December, but not "rank" or 

 overgrown. [j. u.] 



Diseases and Pests. Perhaps the worst is the Onion Maggot (An- 

 thomyia ceparum), which attacks the young bulbs, and causes the droop- 

 ing and yellowing of the leaves. Wireworms and other grubs also interfere 

 with the roots in poorly tilled soil. One of the best preventives, and at 

 the same time an excellent cultural operation, is to use the hoe frequently 

 between the rows. This detaches the eggs of the maggot from the young 

 bulbs before mischief is done. The grubs of Wireworms, &c., are also 

 brought up on the surface in view of the birds, which soon destroy them. 

 Strewing soot along the rows, or spraying with paraffin or quassia emul- 

 sions, may also be tried, but they are inferior to hoeing, and are probably 

 more costly on the whole. [j. w.] 



22. PARSLEY 



It has been said that a market gardener's stand should never be without 

 Parsley (Carum Petroselinum). Parsley is one of the vegetables of which 

 few growers can manage to dispose of any great bulk, except perhaps two 

 or three growers in Bedfordshire. It does not therefore suit the grower 

 who likes to crop his land with a few crops that can be sold in great bulk, 

 and that require little trouble to grow or little business skill in selling. To 

 keep a constant supply of Parsley, and get the most out of it, require skill 

 and constant watchfulness in the grower, and alertness and push in the 

 salesman. 



To keep up a supply, three sowings at least are necessary in March, 

 in June, and in August. The seed is sown in drills 1 ft. apart. As the 

 Parsley seed is a very long while germinating, it is a good plan to mix 

 with it some seed of a plant that germinates quickly: Radishes or Lettuces 

 are sometimes used for this purpose. Only a small proportion about 

 one-tenth of the added seed is necessary, and then, not only are the rows 

 marked for the hoers before the weeds get the upper hand, but the crop, 

 whether of Radishes or Lettuces, can be taken without much injury to the 

 Parsley. 



Parsley does best in light soil with plenty of sand in its composition, 

 and it cannot with safety be put upon the same ground again without 

 an interval of a year or two. It is sent to market either bunched or 

 loose in baskets. The period when it is most frequently scarce is from 

 February to April. 



Parsley realizes about 2s. per dozen bunches; and loose, Is. to Is. 6d. per 

 peck, [w. G. L.] 



