Oct.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 523 



or the next month, if the seeds are fresh and perfect, good crops 

 ay be expected to rise therefrom in March or April. For the 

 ethods of sowing and treating them, see the Kitchen Garden for 



in 



me 



March. 



Shallots, Chives, Garlic, and Rocambole. 



This is a very proper season to plant roots of shallots, chives, 

 garlic, and rocambole; for the method of planting them, see page 

 197. 



Planting large Onions for producing Seed. 



For this purpose make choice of a piece of good, rich, light 

 ground, which dig a full spade deep, breaking it tine as you pro- 

 ceed; when ready, select a number proportionate to the quantity 

 of seed you intend to save, of the firmest, largest, and best shaped 

 onions, and of the most desirable kinds, observing that each variety 

 is to be planted separately and remote from any other. 



The middle of October, or any time between that and the end of 

 the month is the most eligible time for planting, as the bulbs will 

 have time to establish roots or fibres which will greatly support 

 them during winter, and render them less liable to injury from frost 

 than if planted at a later period. 



Having your ground dug and the roots in readiness, lay it out 

 into four feet wide beds with a fourteen inch alley between each; 

 then strain a line about six inches within the side of a bed, and 

 with a spade throw out an opening or drill about five inches deep 

 the length of the bed, in which lay the onions, seated handsomely 

 on their bottoms, about nine inches distant one from the other; then 

 with a rake draw the earth into the opening so as to cover the bulbs 

 from three to four inches above their crowns; remove the line a foot 

 farther back, plant another row as before, and so continue till the 

 first bed is planted containing four rows; after which proceed with 

 the others in the same way to the end; then with a spade or shovel 

 cast over the beds a slight dressing from the alleys, and finish by 

 raking them neatly, drawing oft' the stones and any large lumps of 

 earth from the surface. 



In March the leaves will appear above ground, after which they 

 are to be kept perfectly free from weeds; many of the roots will 

 produce three or four stalks each, which towards the latter part of 

 May will have grown to their full height, when you must be pro- 

 vided with a sufficient number of stakes, about four feet long, to 

 drive into the ground in the rows of onions, at the distance of from 

 six to eight feet stake from stake in each and every row, to which 

 are to be fastened double lines of pack-thread, rope-yarn, or small 

 cord, to run on each side of the stems of the onions a little below 

 their heads, to support and prevent them from breaking down by 

 wind and rain, and if those are tied together at intervals between 

 stake and stake, they will the more effectually support the plants. 

 This is the more necessary, as when the seeds arc formed, the 



