188 Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. 



Art. II. Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. 

 Vol. IV. Part II. 



(^Continued from p. 57.) 



24-. Observations on the Culture of Onions. By Andrew Duncan, 

 sen. M.D. and Pres. Dated Sept. 1. 1818. Read Sept. 8. 1818. 



The object of this paper is to recommend the transplant- 

 ing of onions as generally as leeks. Dr. Duncan saj's he is 

 old enough to remember when transplanted leeks were rarely 

 to be met with in any garden, and he does not despair of 

 living long enough to see the transplanting of onions become 

 as general. The practice is constantly adopted by Mr. Mac- 

 donald of Dalkeith, who puts soot about the roots, and by 

 that means effectually protects the plants from the grub. Dr. 

 Baird, from Bombay, states that transplanting onions has 

 been long the universal practice at some of our settlements 

 in the East Indies, as well as in many parts of the Ma- 

 labar coast. In the latter country, young onion plants for 

 transplanting are as currently sold as cabbage plants are in 

 the Edinburgh market. James Warre, Esq., says the prac- 

 tice is common in Portugal, and thus describes it : — " Sow 

 the seed about the end of November or December, on a 

 moderate hot-bed, covered with a few inches of rich good 

 mould, in a warm situation, merely sheltered from the slight 

 frosts by mats. When the plants are about the size of a 

 large swan's quill, or about April, they are transplanted on a 

 rich light mould, well manured wzYA old rotten dnng, the plants 

 at the distance of about 9 in. each way, generally in beds, for 

 the convenience of access, laying the plants flat, covering 

 lightly the beard or root, and part 07ily of the bulb, with rich 

 mould, well mixed with two thirds of old rotten dung ; water- 

 ing, if the weather is dry, until they have taken root ; sub- 

 sequently occasionally breaking the earth by lightly hoeing, 

 keeping them perfectly clean from weeds, watering frequently, 

 according to the state of the weather. There they have fre- 

 quently means to water by irrigation, when, upon rich soils, 

 they can gi'ow them to a great si^e, particularly when they 

 let the water run through small heaps of dung; though, 

 when that is practised, or much water given, the onions do 

 not keep so long as others. When ripe, they draw them 

 gently from the ground, give a twitch to the tops, and leave 

 them to season on the ground for a few days before housing, 

 when they directly bind them into ropes with dry straw, not 

 permitting them to sweat in a heap. Their preservation 

 much depends upon the weather being dry and good when 

 housed, and on their not being bruised." 



