THE DAWN OF SPRING 



does not thrive, may be sown for the first crop of 

 Turnips. Both the varieties named have agreeable 

 flavour. The seed should be sprinkled in very thinly, 

 and covered about an inch. After the drill has been 

 filled in, the soil may be trodden quite firmly, as though 

 the crop was one of Onions, unless it is so damp as to 

 bind closely. 



Sowing Onions. — One or two rows of a useful, keeping 

 kitchen Onion, such as Ai, James' Keeping, or White 

 Spanish, may be sown out of doors if the soil is in a 

 favourable state. It will have been prepared previously 

 by digging and manuring. The drills should be an inch 

 deep and a foot apart. After the seed has been sown 

 (thinly of course), the ground may be trodden hard, and 

 then be scratched over very lightly with a rake ; deep 

 raking would neutralise the effects of the treading. 

 Seedling Onions in boxes, raised as advised in a 

 previous chapter, must have attention. Dryness of the 

 soil, and crowding, should both be carefully guarded 

 against ; the latter is better avoided by thin sowing than 

 by thinning the plants, but some must be thrown out 

 if there are too many. The plants should be shifted 

 from the seed boxes to cutting boxes about four inches 

 deep when they are three inches high, and set out three 

 inches apart. If raised in heat they ought to be hardened 

 in a frame before being planted out in April. 



Young Tomatoes. — Seedling Tomatoes raised by sow- 

 ing a few weeks ago must be attended to. They ought 

 to have a position close to the glass, and receive abund- 

 ance of air in favourable weather, so that they may keep 

 strong and sturdy. Thin them if crowded, and when 

 they have made a pair of ordinary cut leaves in addition 

 to the seed leaves, they may be set out five inches apart 

 in boxes about six inches deep. More seed may be 

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