2IO THE HOME ACRE. 



mingle these fertilizers thoroughly with the soil, 

 by forking or ploughing it at once, leaving the 

 surface as rough as possible, so that the frost can 

 penetrate deeply. Just as soon as the ground is 

 dry enough to work in the spring, fork or plough 

 again, breaking every lump and raking all smooth, 

 so that the surface is as fine as the soil in a hot- 

 bed. You cannot hope for much in heavy, lumpy 

 ground. Sow at least three seeds to the inch in 

 a shallow drill one inch deep, and spat the earth 

 firmly over the seed with the back of a spade 

 or with your hand. In subsequent culture little 

 more is required than keeping the mere surface 

 stirred with a hoe, and the rows clean of weeds. 

 Onions are not benefited by deep stirring of the 

 soil, but the surface, from the start, should be 

 kept clean and scarified an inch or two deep 

 between the rows during the growing season. I 

 prefer to have my onions growing at the rate of 

 one or two to every inch of row, for I do not like 

 large bulbs. I think that moderate-sized onions 

 are better for the table. Those who value large- 

 ness should thin out the plants to three or four 

 inches apart ; but even in the market there is less 

 demand for large, coarse onions. When the tops 

 begin to fall over from their own weighty in Au- 

 gust or September, leave them to mature and 

 ripen naturally. When the tops begin to dry up, 



