ONION, THE TREE. 



To obtain seed, some of the roots must be 

 planted out in March, 6 or 8 inches asunder. 

 The first autumn they will produce but little 

 seed ; in the second and third, however, it will 

 be produced abundantly. If care is taken to 

 part and transplant the roots every two or three 

 years, they may be multiplied, and will remain 

 productive for many years, and afford much 

 better seed than that from one-year old roots. 

 There is good reason for concluding, as Mr. T. 

 Milne, of Fulham, ingeniously explains, that 

 by a confusion of names, arising from simi- 

 larity of appearance, this vegetable is the true 

 scallion of Miller and others, whilst the hollow 

 leek of Wales is the true Welsh onion ; for 

 the description of scallion, as given by Miller, 



- accords exactly with that of the Welsh onion ; 

 . and as he describes it as a distinct variety, we 



are reduced to the dilemma of receiving this 



- explanation, or considering the variety as lost ; 

 for from Miller's known accuracy it is impos- 

 sible to consider that he was deceived. At 

 present all onions that have refused to bulb, 

 and formed lengthened necks and strong blades 

 in spring and summer, are called scallions. 



ONION, THE TREE, or CANADA (M- 

 lium Canadense). This, which is a very hardy 

 perennial species, like the ciboule, is without 

 a bulbous root, but throws out numerous off- 

 sets. Its top bulbs are greatly prized for pick- 

 ling, being considered of superior flavour to 

 the common onion for that purpose, as well as 

 others in which that species is employed. 



It is propagated both by the root offsets, 

 which may be planted during March and April, 

 or in September and October, and from the top 

 bulbs, which are best planted in spring, and 

 not before the latter end of April. The old 

 roots are best to plant again for a crop of bulbs, 

 as they are most certain to run to stems. If 

 the bulbs be planted earlier than as above di- 

 rected, they are apt to push up the same season, 

 and exhaust themselves without producing 

 either good offsets or bulbs ; but on the other 

 hand, by planting the old roots in the previous 

 autumn, or early in the spring, they will pro- 

 duce good bulbs the same year. They must 

 be inserted in rows 12 inches asunder, in holes 

 6 inches apart and 2 deep, a single offset or 

 bulb being put in each. Those planted in au- 

 tumn will shoot forth leaves early in the spring, 

 and have their bulbs fit for gathering in June, 

 or the beginning of July; those inserted in the 

 spring will make their appearance later, and 

 will be in production at the close of July or 

 early in August: they must not, however, be 

 gathered for keeping or planting until the stalks 

 decay; at which time, or in the spring also, if 

 only of one year's growth, the roots may be 

 taken up and parted if required for planting; but 

 when of two or three years' continuance, they 

 must at all events be reduced in size, other- 

 wise they grow in too large and sprindling 

 bunches ; but the best plan is to make a fresh 

 plantation, annually with single offsets. The 

 only cultivation necessary is to keep them 

 clear of weeds ; and when the stems run up, 

 to give them the support of stakes. 



The bulbs, when gathered, must be gradually 



ORANGE, OSAGE. 



in good state until the following May. (G, W 

 Johnson.) 



OPEN. A term frequently applied to cows 

 or heifers, signifying that they are not in calf. 



OPEN CUTS. Such drains or gutters as 

 are made in land by the spade, and left without 

 being covered in. They are used in draining 

 lands in particular cases. Open cuts, if effec- 

 tual, are the best of all for forest draining, as 

 they cannot be inconvenient, from the plough 

 not being employed after the trees are planted. 

 Cuts of this sort are frequently found useful in 

 the practice of irrigation or watering of land. 



OPHTHALMIA. See SHKEP, DISEASES OF. 



OR ACHE (dtriplex; from atir, black). A 

 genus of herbaceous or shrubby straggling 

 plants of little beauty, and the simplest culture 

 and propagation. There are in England seve- 

 ral native species. 



The A. hortensis is cooked and eaten in the 

 same manner as spinach, to which it is much 

 preferred by many persons, although it belongs 

 to a tribe whose wholesomeness is very sus- 

 picious. It flourishes best in a rich, moist soil, 

 and in an open compartment. Those, how- 

 ever, of the autumn sowing, require a rather 

 drier soil. It is propagated by seed, which 

 may be sown about the end of September, soon 

 after it is ripe, and again in the spring, for suc- 

 cession; the sowing to be performed broad- 

 cast, the seeds being scattered thin. The 

 plants soon make their appearance, being of 

 quick growth. When they are about an inch 

 high, they must be thinned to 4 inches asun- 

 der; and those removed may be planted out at 

 the same distance in a similar situation, and 

 watered occasionally until established. At the 

 time of thinning, the best must be thoroughly 

 cleared of weeds, and if they are again hued 

 during a dry day, when the plants are about 4 

 inches high, they will require no further at- 

 tendance than an occasional weeding by hand. 



For early production, a sowing may be per- 

 formed in a moderate hotbed at the same times 

 as those in the natural ground. 



The leaves must be gathered for use whilst 

 young, otherwise they become stringy and 

 worthless. To obtain seed, some plants of the 

 spring sowing must be left ungathered from, 

 and thinned to about 8 inches apart. The 

 seeds ripen about the end of August, when the 

 plants may be pulled up, and when perfectly 

 dry, rubbed out for use. 



ORANGE, OSAGE (Madura aurantiaca). 

 This is an American deciduous tree, which 

 grows wild in Arkansas and Louisiana, where 

 it attains the height of a tree ofthesecond orthird 

 class, but in the Middle States it seldom grows 

 higher than 15 or 20 feet. It is very branching ; 

 each branch being armed with numerous sharp 

 thorns. The wood is remarkably tough, and 

 said to be very durable. The male and female 

 flowers are on separate trees. The fertile or 

 female tree bears fruit abundantly in a very 

 few years. These are round, rough, and green- 

 ish-coloured, resembling somewhat an orange, 

 and weighing from 12 to 18 ounces, containing 

 from 100 to 250 seeds. 



Recently this thorny tree has received very 



and carefully dried in a shady place; and if | considerable attention, with a view to making 

 kept perfectly free from moisture, will continue ' it useful in the construction of live fences, 



802 " 



