ON REARING KTTCHEX VEGETABLES. 



63 



the rows, and removing those by hand which come up 

 between the plants, and if any of the onions appear hkely 

 to run to seed, bend down their necks, as before directed, 

 they will thus grow from four to six inches in diameter. 

 Those obtained from autumnal sowing will also produce 

 very large bulbs, if planted out in the spring in a similar 

 manner. The tree-onion may be planted in the same 

 way, but is not profitable. 



For seed, some of the larger ones may be planted out in 

 rich soil, in spring, and the seed will be ripe in August, 

 and must be well dried. It is important that every cot- 

 tager should save a little onion seed, as it is frequently 

 extremely dear ; and as three or four plants for seed 

 would occupy little room in the garden, and requke very 

 little attention, a great saving might generally be thus 

 effected. The stems will require supporting with a stake 

 as soon as they appear, but where the bulbs are planted 

 in rows, two stakes at the end of each row will be abun- 

 dantly sufficient, provided strings are fastened to each 

 stake, and extend the whole length of the row on each 

 side of the plants. If, after this, any of the stems should 

 fall down, they may then be fastened to the strings, as, if 

 they are allowed to lie on the ground, the seed will 

 either vegetate or rot, both of which are to be avoided. 



2. — Shallots, Rocamhole, and Garlic. 

 These are similar to onions in appearance, and may be 

 cultivated in the same manner, except that as they do not 

 produce seed freely, they are only multipUed by dividing 

 the roots ; indeed, they produce new bulbs almost as 

 abundantly as the potato, and therefore the seeds are not 

 regarded. The separate parts of the root, called cloves, 

 should be planted in April, either by dibbling them into 

 shallow holes, or by merely pressing them slightly into 

 the soil, and leaving them uncovered. They require no 

 further attention, beyond keeping the ground clear from 

 weeds, and when the leaves have attained their proper 

 size, it is better to tie a quantity of them together in knots, 

 which will facilitate their withering, and prevent the 

 plants from running to seed. The leaves of shallots may 

 be cut while green, as yoimg onions, and are of a very fine 



