ONION. 



121 



Allium Cepa — The Onion. 



Tliis plant, wliich is probably a native of Asia and 

 Egypt, has been cultivated from the most remote antiq[uity, 

 and is one of the most useful of our garden crops. 



Analysis by Kichardson : 



Potash, 29.21 



Soda, 9.41 



Lime, 11.43 



Magnesia, . ... 2.44 



Phosphate of Iron, ..... 12.00 



Phosphoric Acid, . . . 13.62 



Sulphuric Acid, . . . , 7.53 



Chlorine, 2.46 



Silica, 2.76 



Sand, Charcoal, .... 4.75 

 Carbonic Acid, . . , .4.33 



99.94 



It will be seen from the above analysis that to raise 

 good onions, soda, lime, potash, phosphoric and sulphuric 

 acid, and silica must be found in the soil abundantly. 

 Ashes, bone dust, gypsum, and the salt and lime mixture 

 will supply nearly all the inorganic constituents of this 

 crop ; and where they do not already exist in sufficient 

 quantities in the soil they may be supplied in addition to 

 animal manure. Professor Mapes directs that when suffi- 

 cient manure cannot be obtained, four hundred pounds of 

 Peruvian guano composted with five bushels of bone dust, 

 dissolved in sulphuric acid and enough charcoal dust to 

 divide the mass, will be found to produce a maximum 

 crop. Guano water and spent lye well diluted are ex 

 eellent liquid manures. 



Varieties. — There is a great number of varieties of 

 onions, among which are 



Large Red, a hardy variety raised abundantly in the 

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