118 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



carefully levelled and in a damp state when the seeds are sown. 

 When the young plants are somewhat advanced in growth, they 

 should be thinned out to about six inches apart. 



If imported seed is used, perhaps the preferable method is to 

 sow it in large seed-pans, and when the young plants are about 

 three or four inches high, to put them out in a bed prepared 

 for them in the open ground. They should not be planted 

 deep in the soil. Onions are much benefited by frequent 

 watering. When by the commencement of the Hot season the 

 bulbs have attained to their full size, the stems should be bent 

 down in order that they may more speedily decay. On the 

 stems becoming withered, the Onions should be taken up and 

 laid out two or three days in the sun, and when well dried 

 stored away for use. 



In the neighbourhood of Calcutta I have not met with much 

 success in the cultivation of Onions for storing ; but in the Upper 

 Provinces I was able with little trouble to raise abundant crops 

 for that purpose. 



Allium Porrum. 

 LEEK. 



The Musselburgh and the London are accounted the finest 

 kinds of Leek. The lower part of the vegetable when well 

 blanched is very delicious, boiled and served with melted 

 butter, retaining scarcely any of its Onion-like flavour, and 

 forming an excellent substitute for Sea-kale, which it then much 

 resembles. Sowing should be made as soon as the Eains are 

 over ; and as this vegetable is much benefited by being trans- 

 planted, the seed is best sown broadcast and thinly upon a light 

 rich soil. When the plants are about six or eight inches high 

 the earth in which they are growing should be thoroughly 

 softened by watering, so that the plants may be taken up 

 without injury to their roots. In a well-manured piece of 

 ground rows of holes should be made with a dibble or pointed 

 stick, at the distance of a foot between each row. The holes in 

 the rows should be six inches apart and about four inches deep. 

 Insert in each hole a young Leek, and a small quantity of 

 earth after it. When all the young plants are put into the 

 ground, give the whole a good watering. As the plants grow 

 they will require to be earthed up to blanch them. To thrive 



