THE OSTIOtf. 181 



about nine inches apart each way, to be cultivated en- 

 tirely by the hoe, or in rows eighteen inches apart, the 

 plants standing eight inches in the row, which will ad- 

 mit the use of a. narrow cultivator between the rows. 



This crop is marketable in April. 



Any well-drained soil, made fine and mellow, and well 

 manured will produce good lettuce. 



After cleaning, or trimming the heads of soiled, or 

 discolored leaves, they are firmly packed for shipment in 

 crates, barrels being unfit for this crop. 



MUSKMELOK, or CANTALOUPE. See additional chap- 

 ters, pages 251, 252. 



OKEA, or GUMBO. See additional chapters, page 253. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

 THE ONION (Allium Cepa). 



Ognon, French; Zwiebel, German ; Uijen, Dutch ; Cipolla, Italian ; Cebolla, 

 Spanish ; Alho, Portuguese. 



The alliaceous esculents are of great antiquity and of 

 universal cultivation in every civilized country, some na- 

 tionalities preferring one variety, and others a different 

 one. The same genus includes the Leek (Allium Porrum), 

 the Chives (A. ScUcenopramm) , the Garlic (A. sativum), 

 the Shallot (A. Ascalonicum), and the Rocambole (A. 

 Scorodoprasum). The onion (Allium Cepa) is the only 

 species with which the truck-farmer has any concern. 

 There are many varieties of the onion, only a few of 

 which are grown for the Northern markets. 



ANALYSIS. 



According to Prof. C. A. Goessman, a crop of foul 

 hundred and forty-two bushels contained: 



