ONION SEED. 



ORANGE-TREE. 



manner of increase, is sometimes called the 

 " underground " onion, is a valuable vege- 

 table, because it furnishes sound, tender, 

 and full-sized bulbs at midsummer, three 

 months before the ordinary onion crop is 

 harvested. It requires a well-worked, 

 moderately rich soil. The bulbs may be 

 planted in warm, sheltered situations, such 

 as the south of Devon, in midwinter ; but 

 in colder parts the planting must be de- 

 ferred until late winter or early spring ; yet 

 the earlier it can be effected the better. 

 The bulbs should be set in rows from 12 to 

 15 inches apart, and from 12 to 15 inches 

 apart also in the rows. Each bulb will 

 throw out a number of offsets all round 

 it, which grow and develop into full-sized 

 bulbs, which are taken up and dried when 

 ready for pulling, and then stored for use 

 and for future propagation. 



Onion Seed, How to Obtain. 



To procure onion seed, plant some good, 

 sound, full-grown onions in an open situa- 

 tion in March, placing them 6 inches deep 

 and 15 apart. As they grow, protect the 

 stems, which are very brittle, by means of 

 a stake driven into the ground at each end 

 of the rows, and strings passed each side of 

 the stems and fastened firmly to the stakes. 

 This should be done in time to prevent 

 any getting broken, which would reduce 

 the crop. 



Onion Tree. 



The mode of culture to be followed for 

 this onion is the same as that for the potato 

 onion, from which it differs chiefly in its 

 mode of reproduction, the offshoots being 

 produced in the form of bulblets at the end 

 of what would be the flower stalk in 

 ordinary onions. 



Onions, Useful Dressing for. 



If some common washing soda be 

 crushed and sprinkled over an onion bed 



just before rain, and the bed be watered 

 after the soda has been scattered on it, the 

 effect on the leaves will be perceptible very 

 shortly after in increase of size, and the 

 production of a beautiful bloom on them 



Opun'tia (/. ord. Cacta'cese). 



This is the general name of a genus of 

 greenhouse evergreen succulents, of which 

 there are many species, including Opuntia 

 ficus Indica, otherwise known as the Indian 

 Fig. They are ornamental and interesting 

 greenhouse shrubs, with edible fruit, and 

 succeed best in sandy loam with an equal 

 quantity of peat, and plenty of cow dung- 

 lime rubbish, and charcoal mixed with it. 



Orach. 



A vegetable used in the same manner a > 



spinach, but by no means equal to it as an 

 article of vegetable; food. Sow in March 

 and September in open ground, and in 

 a rich, moist soil in which it thrives best. 

 The leaves should be gathered and eaten 

 when quite young. 



Orange and Lemon. 



As far as the cultivation of orange and 

 lemon-trees goes, all that need be said 

 about it is that those who are desirous of 

 possessing specimens should sow the pips 

 in pots filled with light rich soil, and sub- 

 jected to brick-bottom heat. The pots 



