MARCH] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 205 



before; then sow the seed thereon and rake it in ; and if the earth is 

 light and dry they frequently tread it in with the feet before raking. 

 Or the beds may be prepared, as in the first instance, and the seeds 

 sown very thinly in drills a foot apart, either of which methods will 

 do very well. The last is, however, the best, as the push hoe can be 

 used in extirpating the weeds, and loosening the surface. 



But when they are raised upon an extensive scale the ground may 

 be cultivated by the plough, and when harrowed very fine the seed 

 may be sown in drills at the above distance, and the intervals between 

 them kept clean by hoeing; the remainder must be carefully hand- 

 weeded. 



Sowing seed, to produce small seed onions, will answer better in 

 April, which see. If sown in this month they would generally grow 

 to too large a size for that purpose. 



Of the several varieties of onion the Strasburg is the best for a 

 general crop; it is-a handsome bulb, generally assuming a roundish 

 oval shape, is of firm growth, and keeps well for winter service. 



The white Spanish and silver skinned onions are of a milder taste, 

 but all the varieties generally turn out very profitable crops; the latter 

 kinds rarely keep so well after January as the Strasburg. 



The Portugal and Madeira onions are extremely fine; but they 

 rarely attain with us as large a size as in these countries. 



The red Spanish onion is highly esteemed for pickling on account 

 of its deep blood-red color, and much cultivated for that purpose : 

 it may also be used for any other purpose as well as the former 

 kinds. 



' SOWING LEEKS. 



Leek seed may be sown, and treated in every respect for the present 

 as directed for onion seed. 



PLANTING SEED ONIONS. 



By seed onions is meant the small bulbs produced from seed sown 

 last season, which should be planted out as early in spring as it is 

 possible to get the ground in a good state for tillage; the southern 

 States in particular have to depend on such for a general crop, as the 

 summer heat is too powerful in these, and indeed in the middle States, 

 except the ground is peculiarly suitable for the bulks arriving at a 

 sufficient size the first year from seed. 



Having prepared an open piece of strong ground, well dug and 

 enriched with manure, you may proceed to plant these bulbs in rows, 

 either by line and dibble, or by hoe; planting them not more than 

 half an inch over the crowns : let the drills or rows be six inches 

 asunder, and the onions three inches one from the other in the rows. 



But for expedition sake, especially when there are large quantities 

 to be planted, prepare an instrument, just in form of a common 

 hay-rake, having four round teeth or pegs, either of wood or iron, 

 placed in the head, at the distance of six inches from each other, 

 four inches long, and near an inch in diameter, close to the head, 



