92 VEGECtJLTURE 



application of soot and lime are preventives, and the very careful 

 sprinkling of gas-lime between the rows of Onions left in the 

 ground for seeding will serve the same purpose, as will the 

 destruction of all decaying bulbs. 



Onion variations are very numerous indeed. They may, 

 for a guide, be divided, first, into those suited to spring or 

 autumn sowing ; and second, globe-shaped, flat-shaped, red, 

 Tripoli, and silver-skinned Onions. The latter classification 

 principally affects personal taste or fancy ; but the first 

 division is most important to the general cultivation of the 

 Onion. 



ONIOX " SETS." These are small bulbs, about the size of 

 a marble. They are reared from seed of the White Spanish 

 variety, sown about the second week in May in a poor, dry soil. 

 In the event of dry weather prevailing at the time of sowing, 

 give a good watering to promote speedy germination, but after- 

 wards let the seedlings grow as they please until the tiny bulbs 

 are ripe, then lift, dry, and store in paper bags till spring. In 

 February plant the bulbs six inches apart, slightly pressing the 

 bulbs into the soil. For this purpose the soil must be rich and 

 prepared as for ordinary Onions. The bulbs will then develop 

 into exceptionally large ones by August. 



TREE, EGYPTIAN, or CANADIAN ONION (Allium pro- 

 liferum}. A species of Onion which does not possess a bulbous 

 root is a novelty. The Tree Onions produce numerous bulbs 

 on the stems, and these bulbs may be gathered, dried in a shady 

 place, and will keep for a long time if perfectly free from moisture. 

 They are mild in flavour and useful for pickling. The bulbous 

 offsets produced from the roots are planted either in March 

 and April, or September and October, but the bulbs themselves 

 are best planted in April ; and the old roots replanted will also 

 provide a crop of bulbs. It will be thus seen what a useful plant 

 the Tree Onion is ! Plant in rows six inches apart, in holes 

 two inches deep and six inches asunder. Autumn-planted sets 

 will start into growth the following spring, and will be ready 

 with a crop of bulbs in June and July. Spring-planted bulbs 

 appear later in vegetation, and mature their produce in July 

 and August. The bulbs must not be taken up until perfectly 

 ripe and the stalks are withered, and in dry weather. The 

 roots, if required for replanting, may be taken up and divided, 

 or they may be left undisturbed for three seasons ; after this 

 it is best to lift and divide the clumps, otherwise the produce 



