The Cultivation of Onions. 



[NOV., 



that they may possess exceptional knowledge of certain sub- 

 jects ; but inasmuch as their principal duties will be to carry 

 on the advisory and investigation work for which the grant 

 is made, the Institution will be required to see that teaching 

 does not absorb any undue amount of time and that equivalent 

 assistance is given to them by other members of the staff. 



6. In view of the fact that the Agricultural Departments 

 and Colleges are intended to provide information, when neces- 

 sary, for the County Agricultural Staffs, some assistance from 

 Local Education Authorities may be anticipated, and in fixing 

 the grants to be paid to Institutions the Board will have 

 regard to any evidence, such as grants-in-aid promised by 

 counties, indicating that the advisory work undertaken by the 

 Institutions is appreciated locally. 



7. Each Institution in receipt of a grant from this fund will 

 be expected to undertake the advisory work in a group of 

 counties. While it will not be required to investigate pro- 

 blems arising outside its area, it will be expected to assist, by 

 advice, any County Instructor from another district who may 

 apply for information. 



8. Members of the Advisory Staff of an Institution in 

 receipt of a grant will be expected to act as Correspondents of 

 the Board for their district. 



THE CULTIVATION OF ONIONS. 



The most suitable soil for onions is a rich medium friable 

 loam, though any good light soil, even of a gravelly or silty 

 nature, will produce good crops. Clay and clay loams 

 should be avoided where possible, though moderate crops 

 can sometimes be obtained on land of this type. Newly 

 broken up grass land is quite unsuitable, not only because 

 the crop will be liable to various insect attacks, but also 

 because this soil produces "thick-necked" onions, that is to 

 says, plants in which the parts above ground increase heavily 

 in bulk at the expense of the bulb. Good results have, 

 however, been obtained on grass land in the third season 

 after it had been broken up. 



Preparation of the Land. — The land should be thoroughly 

 freed from weeds and well stirred before any sowing is done. 



