398 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



carried out at intervals until a distance of four inches between 

 each plant has been allowed. 



When the plants are in vigorous growth the use of the hoe 

 between the rows thould not be omitted ; while an occasional 

 dressing of soot or a simple artificial manure such as guano will be 

 found valuable so soon as the bulbs begin to form. At this stage 

 also it is advisable to press down the stems immediately above the 

 bulbs. This assists in the development of the bulbs, and also, if 

 the stems are all pressed down in one direction, lends an air of 

 neatness to the bed. Spring-sown onions will be ready for lifting 

 and storing early hi September. 



But there are other methods of raising onions that are not often 

 adopted by the amateur. Diagram 72 gives some hints with 

 regard to them. The potato or underground onion is very easily 

 cultivated. It is shown in Figure 4, and its offsets in Figure 5. 

 The potato onion is largely grown hi Devonshire, where, in view 

 of the mildness of the climate, the rule is to plant on the shortest 

 day with the hope of taking up the crop at midsummer. 



The bulbs, which can be obtained at any florist's or seed 

 merchant's, should be planted almost on the surface in ground 

 that has been previously well prepared and manured, and in rows 

 fifteen inches apart, and from six to ten inches from each other in 

 the rows. 



The peculiar tree onion (shown in Figure 6) can also be planted 

 in February. It bears small onions at the top of a stem, and it 

 is these which may be ** set " four inches apart in rows eight 

 inches asunder. Stems that bear heavily will require some sup- 

 port. When the bulbs are matured they can be preserved in a 

 cool place after they have been allowed to dry in the sun for a brief 

 period. 



The principal crop of shallots should be planted early in March. 

 The ground must not have been manured recently, but ought 

 to have been enriched in the autumn. The bulbs are planted so 

 that the tips just remain out of the ground, at a distance of six 

 inches apart and hi rows a foot away from each other. 



PAKSNIPS. The secret of successful parsnip-growing is deep 



