86 THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



which is thrown a compost of earth and pigeons' droppings, or some 

 equally strong, but suitably -prepared, fertiliser. A little earth is then 

 drawn back into the drill, and the roots are placed and moulded up 

 with the hands, the ground being afterwards carefully trodden to firm 

 them in and make a proper finish. Another and less desirable but 

 often successful mode of procedure, is to sow the seed on poor ground 

 about the middle of May, so as to secure a crop of small ripe bulbs 

 the same season. These are harvested with care and put in small 

 parcels in nets, which are suspended in a light, airy loft or seed-room, 

 and are planted out in spring in the same way as advised for autumn- 

 sown crops. It is the nature of the Onion to run up to seed in its 

 second season, and a few of these May sowings will do so when 

 planted out. But the bulk of them will make a second growth and 

 swell to a large size, not having had time the previous year (through 

 being sown late) to mature within them the germs of the fructifying 

 process. 



AUTUMN-SOWN ONIONS, intended for an ordinary useful crop, are 

 to be sown in the same way as advised for spring sowing. The time 

 of sowing is important, as they should be forward enough before 

 winter to be useful, but not so forward as to be in danger of injury 

 from severe frost. The Tripoli Onions are the most profitable for 

 drawing during winter and spring, as they soon acquire size and 

 make a good show, but on well-drained ground all the sorts are hardy, 

 and such as the Improved Reading and the White Spanish section, 

 which are so much prized as household and market Onions, may be 

 sown in autumn as safely as any others. It may be well in most 

 places to sow a small piece of White Italian in the latter part of July, 

 and to make a large sowing of the best keeping sorts about the 

 middle of August say, for the far north the first of the month, and 

 for the far south the very last day. In places where spring-sown 

 Onions do not ripen in good time in consequence Qf cold wet 

 weather, autumn sowing may prove advantageous, as the ripening 

 will take place when the summer is at its best, and the crop may be 

 taken off before the season breaks down. 



PICKLING ONIONS may be obtained by sowing any of the white 

 or straw-coloured varieties that are grown for keeping, but the large 

 sorts, such as Tripoli, Strasburg, &c., are quite unfit ; the best are 

 the Queen and Paris Silver-skin, as they are very white when pickled, 

 and are moderately mild in flavour. A piece of poor dry ground 

 should be selected, and this should be made fine on the surface. 

 Sow in the month of April thickly, but evenly, cover lightly, and roll 



