ONIONS. 191 



trouble of weeding and promotes the growth of the 

 crop. Of the seedlings make two thinnings, the 

 first to give air to the plants as soon as they can 

 be handled, the second to be final, leaving the plants 

 a handbreadth apart; and that those which are ex- 

 tracted may not be lost, they may be planted in 

 close drills, on any spare piece of ground, for occa- 

 sional use. Thus the main crop has fair play, and 

 suffers no molestation by unskilful intruders till 

 ripe for gathering. After thinning, the ground 

 should be hoed and watered; and it is easy to con- 

 duct the hoe in such a way as to leave no foot- 

 marks. The maturity of the crop is known by the 

 withering of the leaves, but as some individuals 

 may prove refractory in not decaying along with 

 the rest, it is convenient to have their necks broken 

 or twisted a week before reaping, that the ground 

 may be all cleared at once. Much wet after ripe- 

 ness is injurious; should a few dry days occur, the 

 whole crop may be spread along the side of the 

 gravel walk and exposed to the sun; but if there 

 be a threatening of much rain, the onions had 

 better been spread in a single layer on the garret 

 floor. A selection should be made of such bulbs as 

 have small necks for keeping longest. Tight tying 

 in strings, to be hung up in the kitchen, is some 

 trouble, but effectually prevents growing. 



One or two ounces of seed may be sown in 

 August, for a spring and early summer crop. At 

 a medium elevation, the middle of August is the 

 proper season, and sooner or later from the begin- 



