472 
if the bulbs then begin to push. The ground 
should be deep, rich, and well prepared; the 
bulbs should be planted almost on the surface, 
and in rows 15 inches apart, and about 10 
inches from each other in the row. In Devon- 
shire, where this Onion is much cultivated, the 
Fig. 1228.—Potato Onion. 
rule is to plant on the shortest day, and to 
take up the crop on the longest. They plant 
in rows 1 foot apart, and place the bulbs at 
6 inches from each other in the rows. The 
winters in Devonshire are mild, but in parts of 
the country where this is not the case, early 
spring planting is to be preferred. 
Egyptian Onion —This may be propagated 
from the bulbs formed in the ground; also 
Fig. 1229.—Egyptian Onion. 
The 
from the small bulbs formed on the stem. 
former are planted 1 foot apart each way, in| 
shallow drills, about the same time as the main 
crop of Onions is sown in spring, and the stem- 
bulbs in the beginning of April, 4 inches apart, 
in rows 8 inches asunder. 
heavily require to be supported. When mature, 
THE GARDENER’S ASSISTANT. 
every cottage-garden, in some, or indeed in 
many of which, the soil is not well adapted for 
this crop; yet it is important to the cottager 
that he should be able to raise a supply. We 
may therefore give some of the modes of culti- 
vation by which difficulties in the way of rais- 
ing good crops on indifferent or even poor soils 
have been overcome, and from which some use- 
ful hints may be obtained. ~The following 
method, of which the peculiar advantage is, 
that good Onions may be obtained by it on 
a very moderate soil without the abundant 
supply of manure which broadcast sowing re- 
quires, was recommended by Mr. James:— 
The seeds are sown on a slight hot-bed in 
the second week in March; the plants, when 
up, are exposed to the air whenever the weather 
| permits, and in the last week in April they are 
planted out in the following manner:—Deep 
drills are made on a piece of well-dug ground,. 
15 inches asunder, and the drills are filled with 
a good compost of equal parts of sandy loam 
and rotten dung; the plants being drawn care- 
fully from the beds, are placed in these drills at 
12 inches distance from each other, their fibres 
only being covered with the mould, and the 
entire bulb kept above-ground. When planted, 
they receive a gentle watering, which is con- 
tinued daily, unless rain falls, till the roots 
have got hold of the compost. They are after- 
wards hoed when necessary, and occasionally 
watered, till they are fit to take up. By sow- 
ing Onion-seed on a good south border in the 
'second week in September, the plants, if of 
a hardy variety, will stand the winter, and 
they may be treated in the spring as above 
described, with the same success as if they had 
been raised on a hot-bed. 
Forcing.—When young Onions are required 
in winter for saiads, the seeds may be sown 
thickly in pans or boxes of light rich soil, 
placed near the glass in a vinery or other 
structure where a temperature of from 55° to 
65° is maintained. The Onions are drawn for 
use in a very young state, and a sowing may 
be made every fortnight if a constant succession 
is required. 
To save Seeds.—For this purpose select some 
of the largest and best-formed Onions when 
the crop is taken up. Plant them either in 
a 
_ November or February, in warm soil, and in a 
Stems that bear | 
situation well exposed to the sun, but sheltered 
from wind. In planting, drills should be formed 
the stem-bulbs should be gathered, dried, and 3 or 4 inches deep, according to the size of 
kept in a cool dry place. 
the bulbs. These should be planted in per- 
It is attempted to grow Onions in almost | fectly straight rows, 1 foot apart and 6 inches 
