VEGETABLES OR FOOD CROPS 249 



elevations. A dry rather than wet climate suits them, and the 

 best crops are produced in moderately-dry districts, as at Wilson 

 Bungalow. The Onion requires a light soil, which should be en- 

 riched with well-decomposed manure. The seed may be sown 

 broad-cast on raised beds, or in shallow drills about 8 inches 

 apart ; after sowing, cover the seed lightly with a sprinkling of 

 finely-sifted soil, and beat the surface of the soil gently with the 

 back of a spade or a Hat piece of board. Or the seed may be 

 sown in pans or boxes, and the seedlings transplanted out when 

 strong enough into well-prepared beds. The plants should not be 

 closer than 5 to 6 inches each way, while they should be as near 

 the surface as possible so as to encourage the bulbs to increase 

 in size. 



VARIETIES. "Ailsa Craig," "Blood-red," " Button's Al," "Tripoli." 

 and " Veitch's Main Crop" are leading sorts. In India, acclimatised 

 varieties such as "Silver-skin " or " Patna-onion," and the large "Red 

 Onion " are recommended for the plains. 



Onion, Egyptian. This produces on the flower-stalks bulbils 

 of the size of marbles, which are excellent for pickling. Offset 

 bulbs are also formed underground, and propagation is effected 

 by both forms of bulbils. Not cultivated in Ceylon. 



Onion, Potato. This is propagated by offsets produced under- 

 ground, which are comparatively small in size and irregular in 

 shape. The bulbs are planted singly, and around these new ones 

 are formed. This variety is not propagated by seed. 



Onion, Welsh. (Alliuin fistnlosnm}. This affords the popular 

 " Spring onions " of temperate countries. The plant is quite dis- 

 tinct from the common onion ; no bulb is formed, the young 

 tender stem being the part used. 



Onions, " Small."-See Shallots. 



Oxalis crenata. See Tropical Vegetables and Food Products. 



Parsley. See under Condiments, Seasoning and Pot-herbs. 



Parsnips. (Pastinaca saliva. X. O. Umbelliferae). This ex- 

 cellent vegetable can be grown most successfully in up-country 

 gardens, especially in sheltered and moist situations with loose, 

 deep and rich soil. It does not thrive at elevations below 4,000 ft. 

 Its cultural requirements are similar to those of Carrots, but the 

 plant needs greater space than the latter. Seed is best sown in 

 drills about 15 or 18 in. apart, the plants being thinned out when 

 a few inches high to distances of 10 or 12 inches in the row. 

 Medium-sized roots are preferred to very large ones, which are 

 liable to be bad at the core. 



