OXK 



[ 648 ] 



ONI 



rough soil, it is necessary to surface 

 with a little that is finer, that the air 

 may not enter too freely. Fourthly. 

 A plant never thrives well when the 

 surface of the hall is sunk several 

 inches below the rim of the pot ; and 

 there is something uncouth in observ- 

 ing the centre of the ball sticking up 

 in the centre of the pot, like a mole- 

 hill. In all cases, therefore, but espe- 

 cially where it is intended for a plant 

 to continue for years, the compost 

 should be pressed firmly before the 

 young plant is set in the centre of the 

 pot ; and as, nevertheless, it will gra- 

 dually sink a little, the surface of the 

 old soil may just be a little below the 

 rim of the pot. If the roots are the 

 least matted, they should now be 

 gently disentangled, and packed care- 

 fully with the hand, in layers, putting 

 the finest of the rough soil over the 

 young rootlets, and the coarser towards 

 the outside next the side of the pot ; 

 and squeezing all rather firmly toge- 

 ther with the hand, taking care, how- 

 ever, that the soil is in that happy 

 medium that may be termed neither 

 dry nor wet, and yet sufficiently heated 

 to occasion no immediate check by 

 cold. Fifthly. Watering is the most 

 important of all points, and, where it 

 cannot be properly attended to, the 

 one-shift system should not be at- 

 tempted. For some time you must 

 merely water as far as the roots ex- 

 tend the unappropriated soil must 

 not be soaked, or it will become sour 

 and unhealthy for the roots even before 

 they get to it. No regular routine dash 

 or dribble from the water-pot will do 

 with the one-shift system. Sixthly. 

 Temperature. On this system, for some 

 time after potting, the plants should 

 have from o to 10 more heat than 

 they otherwise would require; and a 

 close atmosphere until fresh growth is 

 proceeding freely. A dash from the 

 syringe frequently in hot days will be 

 of great importance. Every incitement 

 to growth must thus be given ; and 

 when that has been accomplished, then 

 air must be freely imparted, and a drier 

 atmosphere maintained, that the fresh 

 wood ,so freely made may be thoroughly | 

 matured. Seventhly. Time of Potting. ' 



Upon this system, in the case of all 

 lasting plants intended to be our com- 

 panions for years, this should take 

 place in spring and early summer, in 

 order, first, that growth may be quickly 

 made, and then maturation of the wood 

 be effected before the dark days come, 

 when, in the generality of cases, the 

 low temperature of winter will give 

 them the rest they require, before 

 breaking and flowering vigorously and 

 profusely the following season. 



ONION. A' Ilium ce'pa. 



Soil rich, open and well drained, in 

 a situation entirely free from trees ; if 

 the soil be poor, abundance of dung 

 should be applied in the preceding 

 autumn or winter. Sea-sand, particu- 

 larly if the ground is at all tenacious, is 

 advantageously employed ; coal ashes, 

 and especially soot, are applied with 

 particular benefit. In digging over 

 the ground, small spits only should be 

 turned over at a time, that the texture 

 may be well broken and pulverized. 



Varieties : 1, Silver-skinned onion, 

 hardiest; 2, Early Silver-skinned; 3, 

 True Portugal ; 4, Spanish ; 5, Stras- 

 burg; 0, Deptford (largest in Eng- 

 land); 7, Globe (white or red), best; 

 8, James's Keeping Onion; 9, Pale 

 Bed; 10, Yellow ; 11, Blood red; 12, 

 Tripoli; 13, Two-bladed; 14, Lisbon. 



Sow for the main crop during 

 March. Main crops may even be in- 

 serted as late as the beginning of 

 April ; and at its close a small sowing, 

 to draw young in summer, and for 

 small bulbs to pickle; again in July 

 and early in August, for salads in 

 autumn, and finally in the last week 

 of August or early in September, to 

 stand the winter, for spring and be- 

 ginning of summer. Sow thinly in 

 drills, eight inches apart. An ounce 

 of seed is sufficient for a rood of 

 ground, especially for the main crops, 

 as they should never be allowed to 

 grow to a size fit for salads, without 

 thinning. The beds should be about 

 four feet wide, for the convenience of 

 cultivation. 



Cultivation. In about six weeks after 

 sowing, the plants will be of sufficient 

 size to allow the first thinning and 

 small hoeing, by which they are to be 



