28 ONION-RAISING. 



Shallots differ from Potato onions principally in their 

 characteristics of always multiplying : a Shallot never grows 

 into a large round onion, but always multiplies itself, forming 

 bulbs that average more oblong and are usually smaller than 

 those of the Potato onion. I find them occasionally pushing 

 a seed-shoot, which I have never seen in the Potato onion. 

 Their habit of growth is finer, making a longer and more 

 slender leaf than the Potato onion. They are mild of flavor, 

 and greatly excel every other variety of the onion-family in 

 their keeping properties : with little care they may be kept 

 the year round. All seedsmen do not know the difference 

 between the Potato onion and the Shallot. Within a few 

 years, I ^ave twice had Shallots sent me under the name 

 " Potato onion." 



Top onions are propagated from little bulbs, which grow 

 in this variety where the seeds grow in the common sorts. 

 They grow to a large size, are pleasant, mild-flavored, rather 

 coarsely and loosely made up, and have the reputation of 

 being poor keepers. Raised like the Potato onion. 



SEED-SOWING MACHINES. 



'T^HERE ARE A VARIETY of machines in the market for 



•^ sowing onion and other seed, but most or all of them 



can be arranged in three classes ; viz., Brush Sowers, Snap 



Sowers, and Agitators. 



Brush-machines are those in which the seed is forced out 

 by a brush contained in the seed-box. The characteristic 

 feature in this class of seed-planters is of English origin. It 

 has passed through various modifications in this country. 



The Brush-machine (an engraving of which is here pre- 

 sented) makes the drills, drops the seed, covers and rolls it : 

 it is adapted for planting all the common root-crops. 



