THE ONION. 197 



ruary on a slight hotbed, or sometimes merely under a 

 glass-frame. In the first or second week of April, accord- 

 ing to the state of the weather, he transplanted the young 

 seedlings in rows, eight inches asunder, and at the distance 

 of four or five inches in the row. Previous to planting, the 

 roots of the seedlings were dipped in a puddle of one part 

 of soot to three parts of earth, an expedient which was 

 found useful in guarding the transplanted onions from the 

 attack of the wire-worm. He found that onions thus 

 treated attained a large size. 



The POTATO-ONION is propagated by the lateral bulbs, 

 which it throws out, under ground, in considerable numbers. 

 It may be planted about midwinter, and will ripen early in 

 the summer. Its flavor is not unpleasant ; but the plant, 

 being rather troublesome in cultivation, is not likely to 

 supersede the common onion. 



The TREE- ONION, introduced from Canada, is a vivipa- 

 rous variety, producing small bulbs in place of flowers ; 

 but the bulbs are strong-scented. 



The PEARL- ONION, of recent introduction into England, 

 and hitherto little known (Allium Halleriifi. DON ?) pro- 

 duces clusters or small bulbs at the root. These little 

 bulbs are of a fine white color, like the silver-skinned, and 

 very fit for pickling. 



* The onion requires a very rich soil, and forms an excep- 

 tion to most plants in regard to the necessity of changing 

 the ground. Where the same patch has been kept well 

 manured, heavy annual crops have been taken off for thirty 

 or forty years successively. 



In the Middle States, where a field crop is the object, 

 the ground, after being heavily manured, is dug or plough- 

 ed early in spring, well raked or harrowed, and divided 

 into very shallow drills about nine inches apart, with 



