122 GROW YOUR OWN VEGETABLES 



the neck by means of the twine. Proceed in this way 

 and work upwards. 



If space can be found for an onion bed in late summer or 

 early autumn, it is more profitable to sow the seeds then 

 than to leave them until the following March. Sow in 

 ground prepared as before but aim at getting the crop 

 sufficiently sturdy to be able to withstand the trials of 

 winter. Hoe as soon as the lines are distinguishable, but 

 when the weather is inclement do not turn in wet, cold 

 surface earth, merely scratch away the weeds. Use soot 

 liberally. Thinning out may be left until March, when 

 the seedlings that have been torn up will be useful as 

 spring onions. Many allotment-holders and gardeners 

 are not prepared to risk their seeds and time on an 

 autumn sowing and yet they may be desirous of raising 

 as early a crop as possible. They will do well to sow 

 thickly in shallow boxes in January. Use a light soil and 

 keep at a temperature of about 60. In April transplant 

 the seedlings to the prepared bed. Be careful to dis- 

 entangle the root hairs of each seedling without damaging 

 them and, when placing them in the earth, see that they 

 are not pushed in carelessly but spread out naturally. 



Varieties of onions are numerous. For spring sowing : 

 Bedfordshire Champion and James's Keeping. For 

 autumn sowing : Ailsa Crag, White Emperor, and most 

 of the Tripoli kinds. For autumn sowing and using as 

 spring onions : White Lisbon. For pickling : Silver Skin. 



Chives. These are a useful substitute for spring 

 onions, being more profitable, and, if anything, easier to 

 grow. They are either propagated from seed, being sown 



