VEGETABLES. 211 



a few years ago ; and still the size increases yearly, our 

 leading exhibitors vieing with each other in " beating the 

 record." Three of the finest for exhibition are Ailsa Craig, 

 Rouaham Park Hero, and Trebons. Onions thrive best in a 

 rich, light, warm soil, made firm on the surface by treading 

 just before planting. It should be heavily manured and double 

 dug the previous autumn, leaving it in ridges exposed to the 

 frost all winter. When required for planting, level the ridges 

 and fork into the surface soil a dressing of salt and soot. 

 A little bone-meal is also very beneficial. The seed may be 

 sown in the open air on a warm border about the middle of 

 August, or in boxes, in a mild heat, early in February. In 

 either case they must be pricked three inches apart into boxes, 

 fiUed with light rich soil, and placed in a temperature of about 

 55° at the lowest, where they will grow freely and make fine 

 plants to set out in due time. Care must be taken to prevent 

 any drawing of the plants while they are in heat, and they 

 must be gradually hardened off to be ready to plant out early 

 in May. The ground being properly prepared, the planting 

 should be done on a mild afternoon, lifting each plant care- 

 fully with a ball, and inserting it unbroken into the firm 

 surface of the ground with a trowel. Place a small stake to 

 each plant, to save the leaves from being tossed about by the 

 wind till the plants are established, and give a watering to 

 settle the soil around the ball. The rows should be about 

 15 inches between, and the plants about nine inches apart in 

 the rows. Ttey should be kept clear of weeds, and receive 

 when growing freely a copious supply of liquid manure (made 

 from guano, soot, or pigeon-dung) in dry weather, and a 

 sprinkling of artificial manure in showery weather is very 

 beneficial in swelling the bulbs to their largest dimensions. As 

 they reach maturity the heads of most of them require to be 

 bent over and slightly twisted, to stop top growth and assist the 

 ripening of the bulbs. For early autumn shows it is generally 

 necessary to lift them and twist their necks, and place them in 

 a dry hot place to ripen for competition. Their points of merit 

 are: (1.) Size, which must be firm and weighty; (2.) form, 

 which should be globular and smooth, with a fine neck ; and 

 (3.) ripeness. 



