THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 2OQ 



better. Indeed, I have often, with great advan- 

 tage, sown the seed on light soils the first of Sep- 

 tember, and wintered over the young plants in 

 the open ground. Nature evidently intended the 

 onion for humanity in general, for she has en- 

 dowed the plant with the power to flourish from 

 the tropics to the coldest limit of the temperate 

 zone. 



While onions are grown in all sorts of careless 

 ways, like other vegetables, it is by far the best 

 plan to select a space for an annual and perma- 

 nent bed, just as we do for asparagus. Unlike 

 most other crops, the onion does not require 

 change of ground, but usually does better on the 

 same soil for an indefinite number of years. 

 Therefore I would advise that upon the Home 

 Acre the onion, like the asparagus bed, should be 

 made with a view to permanence. 



Not much success can be hoped for on rough, 

 poor land. The onion, like the asparagus bed, 

 should be made and maintained with some care. 

 If possible, select a light; well-drained, but not 

 dry plot. Make the soil rich, deep, mellow, to 

 the depth of twenty inches, taking out all stones, 

 roots, etc. ; cover the land with at least six inches 

 of good strong barn-yard manure. This should 

 be done in the autumn. Sow the ground white 

 with salt, as in the case of asparagus, and then 



14 



