126 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



one producing bulbs on tbe stem like tbe tree onion, and 

 the otlier never throwing up flower-stems at all. The 

 latter produces much larger bulbs than the other variety. 



Culture. — It is propagated by offsets of the roots which 

 may be planted at any time from October to March. 

 Prepare the soil as for the black seed variety, but not so 

 rich, and insert the offsets in drills twelve inches from each 

 other, and ten inches apart in the drills, with the tops just 

 level with the surface. Beds four feet v/ide are found the 

 most convenient in practice. Keep the ground loose and 

 free from weeds, but do not hoe deep nor earth them up, 

 if you would have them ripen perfectly. Take them up 

 when their leaves turn yellow and treat them as the last 

 variety described, if you wish to preserve for winter. 

 They will be found earlier and milder in flavor than those 

 raised from seed but not as profitable, as the bulbs are 

 rather small. Used in the same way as the other varieties. 



Allium Proliferum. — Tree or Button Omon. 



Also called the Canada onion. A very hardy and peren- 

 nial species, it is very much cultivated, and a great favorite 

 in countries either too cold or too warm for the other 

 varieties to flourish. It produces little bulbs at the top of 

 its seed stems. Hence the name tree or top onion. This 

 is the easiest cultivated of any of the onions, properly so 

 called, and will always be a favorite as the crop is quite 

 abundant and little care is required. 



Culture. — Plant at auy time from the first of October to 

 April, the little buttons produced at the top of the stalk. 

 The ground should be prepared and manured as directed for 

 the common onion, and laid off in drills one foot apart, and 

 the baUons set six inches distant in the drill. Beds four feet 

 wide are most convenient for culture and weeding. Plant 

 th© bu-Uon with its apex just even with the surface of the 



