150 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



ONI 



of its species have extremely large pseudo-bulbs, 

 others have the pseudo-bulbs very small; another 

 portion are entirely destitute of these, and have 

 instead thick, leathery leaves, which again vary 

 in size from two feet long and nearly half as 

 much in breadth, to scarcely six inches m their 

 greatest measurement; a third group are dis- 

 tin^uished by their rounded, rush-like leaves, 

 about the thickness of a little finger, and from 

 two to four feet in length. Besides this, quite 

 as much disparity exists in the size and color of 

 the flowers, and in the length of the flower- 

 spike, which, in some species, will attain an 

 extent of twenty feet, while in others it is not 

 more than three or four inches; yet every indi- 

 vidual is beautiful and worthy a place wherever 

 Orchidacese are grown. 0. papilio, the Butter- 

 fly Orchid, is certainly as much like a butterfly 

 as it is possible to imagine a flower to be, and 

 as it is borne on a long, slender stem, which 

 quivers with every breeze, it forms no bad rep- 

 resentation of a beautiful insect fluttering over 

 the neighboring flowers. 0. altissimum has a 

 spike of flowers which is sometimes ten or 

 twelve feet in length. They are all natives of 

 South America, Mexico, and the West Indies, 

 and as they will thrive in a lower temperature 

 than the Dendrobiums, and some other Orchids, 

 they are very suitable for a small hot-house. It 

 is better to cultivate all the larger growing kinds 

 in pots or pans, and to place them in rather 

 large ones, that they may not require frequent 

 shifting, which, each time it is performed, in- 

 flicts a serious check upon the plants, in conse- 

 quence of the unavoidable breaking of the roots. 

 The soil for them should be leaf mould and 

 sphagnum, thoroughly mixed, but not broken 

 finely; this, with abundant drainage, a brisk, 

 moist temperature in the growing peason, shade 

 from strong light, a careful preservation from 

 insects and dirt, and a moderate rest in winter, 

 will not fail to form healthy flowering speci- 

 mens in a short time. The smaller species may 

 be placed on cork or in baskets. 



Onion Lily. See Ornithogalum caudatum. 



Onion. Allium cepa. The Onion has been known 

 and cultivated as an article of food from the very 

 earliest period. Its native country is unknown, 

 but it is believed to have originated in the East. 

 In the sacred writings we find it mentioned as 

 one of the things for which the Israelites longed 

 when in the wilderness, and complained to 

 Moses because they were deprived of their Leeks, 

 Onions, and Garlic, of which, said the mur- 

 murers, " We remember we did eat in Egypt 

 freely." To show how much it was esteemed by 

 the ancient Egyptians, we need only mention 

 that Herodotus says in his time (450 B.C.) there 

 was an inscription on the Great Pyramid, stating 

 that a sum amounting to 1,600 talents had been 

 paid for Onions, Radishes, and Garlic, which 

 had been consumed by the workmen during 

 the progress of its erection. Even at the pres- 

 ent duv, the people of Western Asia, as well as 

 the inhabitants of cold countries, are all large 

 consumers of Onions, which, for culinary pur- 

 poses, are more universally cultivated than al- 

 most any other vegetable. The garden varieties 

 that have been introduced are very numerous, 

 and their origin about as difiicult to trace as the 

 species. The justly celebrated Bermuda Onion 

 of our markets is grown from seed annually 

 imported from the south of Europe. On- 

 ions are also most extensively grown in the 

 United States, one seed firm alono soiling 



ONO 



twenty tons of the seed annually. The varieties 

 grown are the red, white, and yellow-skinned, 

 among which are numerous varieties, the favor- 

 ite kinds being known as Yellow Danvers, 

 White Globe, Red Globe, Wethersfield Red, 

 White Portugal. Beginners growing the Onion 

 for market had better consult works specially 

 devoted to Onion culture, or works specially on 

 Market Gardening, but for private use we will 

 briefly detail the methods. For the earliest 

 crop the " sets " or small bulbs should be planted 

 as early in spring as the ground is dry enough 

 to work, in beds four or five feet wide, and in 

 rows nine inches apart, with two or three inches 

 between the sets or bulblets, pressing these 

 down about an inch or so into the soil. Grown 

 in this way, the Onions are usually used in the 

 green state. For the main crop the seed proper 

 is thinly sown in drills, two or three inches 

 deep, the rows at the same distance apart as for 

 the sets. To insure quick and safe germination 

 after sowing the seed, the drills should be trod 

 along evenly with the foot, and then raked level. 

 This plan of treading in seeds with the feet we 

 invariably practice, particularly if the soil be dry. 

 If not done, our hot, dry atmosphere penetrates 

 the loose soil, partially drying up the seed, 

 which always impedes germination, and often 

 destroys the crop completely. The omission of 

 practicing the firming of the soil over seeds, 

 either by the feet, roller, or in any other manner 

 that will accomplish the purpose, is the loss of 

 many millions annually, not only to the garden, 

 but to the farm. The importance of this sub- 

 ject is our excuse for the digression. In ten to 

 twelve days after sowing, the Onion seed will 

 have started sufficiently to show the rows. The 

 ground should then be lightly hoed, so as to de- 

 stroy the weeds which germinate, many of them 

 simultaneously with the Onion seed. In the 

 seed rows, where the hoe cannot be used, 

 the soil should be stirred with the fingers, other- 

 wise weeds would quickly grow up and choke 

 the crop. When about three or four inches 

 high the Onions should be thinned out to two 

 or three inches apart. Kept entirely clear from 

 weeds, the crop is ripened off in June, Julv, or 

 August, according to the latitude in which it is 

 grown. It is a curious fact, however, that 

 Onions do not ripen their bulbs later than 

 August; consequently, though they will grow 

 well enough if sown late in the season, yet, if 

 wanted to ripen so as to keep during winter, 

 they must be sown in the first sowing of seeds 

 in the spring. 



Onoclea. From onos, a vessel, and Jdeio, to in- 

 close; referring to the apparent capsules. Linn, 

 Cryptogamia-FUices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiaceai. 



A small genus of hardy native Ferns, common 

 in moist places throughout the States. One of 

 the species is called the Sensitive Fern, for what 

 reason we cannot say, the plant certainly having 

 no claim to such a distinction. 



Ononis. Best-harrow. From onos, an ass, and 

 onemi, to delight; the ass delights to browse on 

 the herbage. Linn. Honadelphia-Decandria. Nat. 

 Ord. Fabacece. 



An extensive genus of small herbaceous 

 plants, common to Europe. A few species are 

 tender annuals from the Cape of Good Hope. 

 They have white, pink, or yellow flowers, some 

 of them very pretty, but best suited to rough, 

 waste places. They are easily grown from seed, 

 and will adapt themselves to any place given 

 them. 



