104 KITCHEN-GARDENING. 



planting the bulbs in spring or autumn, either the root bulbs, 

 or those produced on the top of the stalks ; the latter, if plant- 

 ed in the spring, will produce fine Onions. These may be 

 planted in rows with a dibble, the same as Shallots. 



The Potato Onion, Allium tuberosum, does not produce seed 

 as other Onions, but it increases by the root. One single 

 Onion, slightly covered, wdll produce six or seven in a clump, 

 partly under ground. The bulbs are generally planted in the 

 spring from twelve to eighteen inches apart ; but they will yield 

 better when planted in autumn, as they will survive the winter 

 if slightly covered with dung, litter, or leaves of trees, etc. 



WHEN TO sow THE SEED. 



Onion-seed may be sown at an}^ time from March to Septem- 

 ber ; but those only can be depended upon for ripening which 

 are sown in the first and second spring months. It is a singular 

 fact that Onions will not ripen later than August, or the early 

 part of September, however warm the weather may be. They 

 can, however, be preserved in the place where they grow, by 

 spreading some short dung over them in autumn, just sufiicient 

 to prevent their being lifted out of the ground in winter. 

 Onions thus preserved, often prove more profitable to market 

 gardeners in the spring than crops which ripen ; because ripe 

 Onions are then scarce, and green ones prove a good substitute 

 for Shallots, Welsh Onions, Leeks, etc. 



Parsley. Persil. Apium petroselinum. 



Parsley is a hardy biennial plant, and grows wild in moist 

 climates, but has been greatly improved by cultivation. The 

 leaves of the Common Parsley are used as a potherb, and those 

 of the Extra Curled kinds make a fine garnish. The Large- 

 Rooted are generally cooked for the table in autumn and 

 winter, like Parsnips. 



As Parsley-seed, sown late in the season, is apt to lie in the 

 ground some time before it vegetates, and often fails in dry 

 weather, the general crop should be sown in a cool situation by 



