ONIONS 129 



large enough. If the seeds are sown in groups or patches 

 of two feet or more, and then covered with hand-glasses 

 or, failing these, inverted flower-pots, the seed quickly 

 germinates : the pots may be used at night for a while 

 as a protective covering. 



ONIONS. 



Preparation of the ground is one of the first things 

 that claim attention in growing Onions. It should be 

 deeply trenched in the autumn, and have a liberal 

 supply of well-decayed farmyard manure incorporated. 

 It is a good plan to give a dusting of soot and bone- 

 meal between the layers, and apply the same dressing 

 to the surface, which should be left as rough as pos- 

 sible, so that it may be crumbled down by the influ- 

 ence of the weather. Before planting out the crop, 

 level the bed and mark out the alleys ; then work 

 the surface well with a fork, and rake it down until 

 perfectly fine. 



To obtain large bulbs it is necessary to make a 

 start early in the year by sowing in boxes under glass 

 at once, as this vegetable requires a long period of 

 growth to bring it to perfection. A suitable compost 

 consists of two parts fibrous loam, one part leaf-mould, 

 and one part old mushroom-bed material, with a 

 good sprinkling of fine charcoal. The whole should 

 be thoroughly incorporated and passed through a 



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