542 OMITTED IN OCTOBER. 



OMITTED IN THE KITCHEN-GARDEN FOR OCTOBER, 



Planting large Onions for producing Seed. 



FOR this purpose make choice of a piece of good, rich, light, 

 ground, which dig a full spade deep, breaking it fine as you proceed; 

 when ready, select a number proportionate to the quantity of seed 

 you intend to save, of the firmest, largest and best shaped onions, 

 and of the most desirable kinds, observing that each variety is to be 

 planted separately, and remote from any other. 



T ie middle of October, or any time between that and the end of 

 the month, is the most eligible time for planting, as the bulbs will 

 have time to establish roots or fibres, which will greatly support 

 th ! a luring winter, and render them less liable to injury from frost, 

 than if planted at a later period. 



Having your ground du^ and the roots in readiness, lay it out 

 into four feet wide beds, with a fourteen inch alley between each ; 

 then strain a line about six inches within the side of a bed, and with 

 a spade throw out an opening or drill about five inches deep the 

 length of the bed, in which lay the onions seated handsom ly on 

 their bottoms, about nine inches distant one from the other ; then 

 -with a rake, draw the earth into the opening so as to cover the 

 bulbs from three to four inches above their crowns ; remove 

 the line a foot farther back, plant another row as before, and so 

 continue till the first bed is planted containing four rows ; after 

 which proceed with the others in the same way, to tire end ; then 

 with a spade or shovel cast over the beds,' a slight dressing from 

 the alleys, and finish by raking them neatly, drawing off the stones 

 and any large lumps of earth from the surface. 



In March the leaves will appear above ground, after which they 

 are to be kept perfectly free from weeds ; many of the roots will 

 produce three or four stalks each, which towards the latter part of 

 May will have grown to their full height, when you must be pro- 

 vided with a sufficient number of stakes, about four feet long, to 

 drive into the ground in the rows of onions, at the distance of from 

 six to eight feet, stake from, stake in each and every row, to which 

 are to be fastened, double lines of pack-thread, rope-yarn, or small 

 cord, to run on each side of the stems of the onions a little below 

 their heads, to support and prevent them from breaking down 'by 

 wind and rain ; and if those are tied together at intervals between 

 stake and stake, they will the more effectually support the plants. 

 This is the, more necessary, as when the seeds are formed, the 

 heads become very heavy, and often break down, even by their own 

 weight, where they are not well secured, in which case, there will 

 be a considerable loss, both in the quantity and quality of the seed. 



When the seed is ripe, which is very perceivable by the capsules 

 op "'ied turning black, the heads are to be cut off and 



spread thinly upon coarse cloths, in the sun till quite dry, observing 



