Gardening for Amateurs 



1049 



the greater part of the work, and then the 

 crop is not such a costly matter for him. 

 The Onions, when large enough many lots 

 are ready in February are lifted and taken 

 co the sheds, where they are tied in small 

 bunches of from four to nine or so, accord- 

 ing to their size. Afterwards they are put 

 into small bunches in dozens by means of 

 thin willow twigs, and when thoroughly 

 washed they are ready for market. It is a 

 tempting crop for the small grower, as it 

 brings in a little money at a time when 

 sources of income are slight, and the work 

 can be done with very little expenditure 

 on labour. The growing of spring-sown 

 Onions does not receive the consideration it 

 deserves in this country. There is too much 

 sowing of quick-growing, poor-keeping sorts, 

 such as White Spanish, when preference 

 should be given to James' or Bedfordshire 

 Champion and similar keeping sorts. Sow 

 the seeds in March in firm but well-culti- 

 vated land. Hoe when needed, and give 

 occasional dressings of soot. In autumn 

 take up the crop, thoroughly dry and clean, 

 and store in a cool, dry shed. A general 

 price for these Onions is somewhere near 

 5s. per cwt. wholesale. In scarce seasons they 

 will rise to 12s. per cwt. in spring. Those 

 who wish to store the crop must be prepared 

 for some labour in turning over and remov- 

 ing decaying bulbs and for some wastage. 

 But the latter is seldom a serious matter 

 if the store be a dry one. Wet causes far 

 more damage than frost. Many growers 

 declare the crop to be unduly expensive as 

 regards labour, and not sufficiently re- 

 munerative in view of low prices caused by 

 Continental competition. By good manage- 

 ment very heavy crops can be secured, and 

 then the growing of Onions may be said to 

 be profitable. 



Parsley. There is a continuous but not 

 always heavy demand for this in the markets. 

 It may be sown in April and May under fruit 

 trees, and has been known to pay the rent 

 of the land. Sow in drills about 1 foot 

 apart, and afterwards keep clean by hoe- 

 ing. It is not usual to pick the leaves ; a 

 spade is run under the crowns of each 

 plant, and the whole of the crop is then 

 cleared into hampers which should contain 

 20 Ib. Prices fluctuate very widely. Some- 



times as low as 6d. per 20 Ib. is realised ; 

 at rare intervals 7s. 6d. may be secured. 



Parsnip. The Parsnip is not a universal 

 favourite, yet some seasons it is a profitable 

 root to grow. Prices fluctuate greatly from 

 one year to another, but the smallholder 

 with stock need worry little if prices fall low 

 on the market, as boiled Parsnips are excel- 

 lent food for pigs and cattle. Parsnips some- 



Onion Ailsa Craig. 



times realise 6s. per cwt. ; another time they 

 may be down to Is. In suitable land and 

 favourable years an enormous crop can be 

 secured. Twenty tons per acre would be a 

 good crop, but large patches of Parsnips 

 are not usually grown. 



Pea. The growing of Peas for market is 

 at times a most profitable venture. Of late 

 years many varieties have come into use 

 which are of really good quality, and very 

 different in this respect from field Peas of 

 former days. Early crops of these vege- 

 tables pay better than later ones generally 

 speaking. Early Eclipse, Ameer and Con- 

 queror are the sorts usually sown in Novem- 

 ber, and planting does not begin again until 



