198 KITCHEN GARDEN. 



alleys between every three rows about fifteen inches in 

 width. Young onions about the size of beans are to be 

 planted in these rows or drills, but not covered with earth. 

 These are to be thinned so as to stand about three inches 

 apart, aad kept clean and hoed every few days. In June, 

 the vacant alleys may be dug and planted in cabbage, as 

 this will not interfere with the onion crop, which ripens 

 and comes off in July.* After being pulled they are laid 

 out to dry, and then placed under shelter. 



The young onions intended for planting the succeeding 

 year are raised from seed sown in shallow drills early in 

 April. About the middle of July, when they have attain- 

 ed the size of beans, these are taken out of the ground, and 

 put away in some dry place where there is a free circulation 

 of air, and thus kept till the following spring to be planted 

 out as described. 



With regard to the onion in the American climate, it is 

 a singular fact that they will not ripen (in the Middle 

 States at least,) unless the seed be sown very early in the 

 spring. They may, however, be preserved in their places 

 through the winter by a light covering of old or short ma- 

 nure, straw or other litter, placed over them in the fall. 



Although they may not become fully matured, onions 

 can, however, be raised from the seed in one season suffi- 

 ciently large for culinary purposes, and, where the soil and 

 other circumstances are peculiarly congenial, quite as large 

 as those which have occupied two seasons in their develop- 

 ment. 



With regard to the Potato or Underground Onion it 

 may be necessary to state that they should be planted in 



* When the onion bulbs are well expanded, they are injured if the ground 

 be stirred around them with the hoe. Therefore, if the weeds require re- 

 moval, this must be done by hand. 



