MAY.] KITCHEN VEGETABLES; 81 



watering, in order to settle the earth about those left. 

 The younger crops may also be cleared from weeds, 

 and be thinned out to half the above-mentioned dis- 

 tances ; thinning out finally, when they are more 

 advanced ; for it is proper to do this work by degrees, 

 lest the crop in any measure go off by severe 

 droughts, a thing not at all uncommon. 



Of laying down the Winter Onions. 

 Now again go over the winter crop, and pick 

 out the heart-buds of all that are shooting for seed, 

 as directed last month ; clean the ground among 

 them of weeds, and then let the crop be laid over ; 

 that is, let the stems be bent flat down, just above 

 the bulb. This may be done with the hand, but it 

 is more expeditiously performed by two people with 

 a rod, or rake-handle ; each taking an end, and 

 walking slowly up the alleys, holding it so as to 

 strike the stems an inch or two above the bulb. 

 This laying over is very serviceable to all crops of 

 onions, as thereby the growth of the stem is check- 

 ed, and thrown into the bulb. To late crops, in bad 

 or wet seasons, it is particularly so ; as, by thus 

 checking their growth, they are in a measure forced 

 to ripen. 



Of thinning Parsnip. 



Parsnip that was sown in March will now require 

 to be thinned. Observe what is said above, respect- 

 ing beet ; and, at the same time, clear the crops 

 from weeds. Parsnip may yet be successfully sown, 

 but the sooner in the month the better. 



