ONION PALMS 163 



of Onions. In cultivating and hoeing, the soil should be 

 kept away from the rows, not covering the growing bulbs, 

 but allowing them to spread over the surface of the ground. 

 When the crop is ready to be harvested, the bulbs may 

 be pulled or cultivated up, left to dry in double rows for 

 several days, the tops and roots taken off, and the bulbs 

 stored in a dry place. Later in the season they may be 

 allowed to freeze, covering with chaff or straw to hold them 

 frozen, and kept until early spring; but this method is 

 usually unsafe with beginners, and always so in a changeable 

 climate. Onion seed should always be fresh when sown 

 preferably of the last year's crop. One ounce of Onion 

 seed will sow 100 feet of drill. 



One of the recent methods of obtaining extra large bulbs 

 from seed is to sow the seed in a hotbed in February or 

 early March, and transplant to the open ground in April. 



The Danvers, Prizetaker, Globe and Wethersfield are 

 favorite varieties, with the addition of White Queen or 

 Barletta for pickling. 



Oxalis. A number of hardy species of this 

 are excellent plants for rockwork and edging. The green- 

 house species are very showy, growing without extra care, 

 and blooming freely through the late winter and spring 

 months; these are mostly increased by bulbs, a few by divi- 

 sion of the root. 0. molacea is one of the commonest of 

 house -plants. Give a sunny window, for the flowers open 

 only in sun or very bright light. The bulbous kinds are 

 treated as recommended for Bulbs, except that the bulbs 

 must not freeze. 



Palms. No more graceful plant for room 

 decoration can be found than a well -grown specimen of 

 some species of Palms. Most Palms are well adapted for 

 this purpose when small, and as the growth is usually very 

 slow, a plant may be used for many years. Again, the 

 plants thrive better in partial shade. They may be grown 

 in a sitting or drawing-room more satisfactorily than most 



