98 BARR & SUGDEN'S SPRING SEED CATALOGUE, \ 



per pkt. per oz. j 



Altringham, selected, grows to a large size, and is equally prized for garden and field 



culture 0 4 \ 



Large White Belgian, best for cattle, produces an immense crop 0 3 



Large Orange Belgian, considered superior to the above 0 3 



j LEEK. 



I Preparation op the Soil. — To grow Leeks to perfection, a deep and rather strong loamy soil 

 ■ highly enriched with manure, is essential. The ground therefore intended for this crop should be 

 I heavily dressed with rich well rotted manure, and trenched at le:ist to a depth of two feet, and 

 I ridged" up as early in autumn as possible ; and if a spring crop is sown upon it, one should be ciiosen 

 I which will not exhaust the soil much, and the ground should receive a sprinicling of tnanure before 

 I digging it for the Leek, Some growers dig out narrow trenches and fill in with manure, as is done 

 I for Celery, but, save on very light poor soil, this is nnnccessarj*. 



' Time akd Method of Sowing. — Sow in February, or as soon as the ground is in fair working 

 ' condition, on a bed of rich liglit well pulverised soil, scattering the seeds very thinly, and covering 

 them lightly. Choose a wc\l sheltered sunny situation; and, in cold localities, it would be advisable 

 I to raise the plants in a cold frame, and transjilniit them into nursery lines, or beds, in April or early 

 I in May. 



I Some growers practice transplanting even in the case of plants raised in the open border, and if 

 j this is carefully done, and tlie plants lifted each time with such care as to leave the roots uninjured, 

 I it doubtless proves very beneficial. Very fine grown Leeks may, however, be obtained without this 

 1 trouble ; but where the ground intended for planting upon may be occupied by a siiring crop, and 

 I the leeks cannot be planted out as soon as they are ready, then the jjlants should be pricked out 

 about three inches apart, upon a bed of rotten manure and soil, so tliat they can be transplanted 

 with fine balls of earth attached to them. 



Transplanting and Ayxi u Culture. — As soon as the plants are sufficiently strong, and the 

 ground is ready, draw lines, twelve to fifteen inches apart, and three inches deep, and then, with a 

 blunt-pointed dibber, three inches in diameter, make holes in the lines eight or ten inches apart, and 

 six inches deep, into whicli droj) the plants. Apjily a good soaking of water after planting, which 

 will carry down sufficient soil to cover the roots, jiuring hot dry weather a liberal soaking of weak 

 manure water should be given occasionally, and the ground must be kept free from weeds by 

 frequent hoeings. When the plants have pushed their hearts al)ove the surface of the ground, the 

 soil should bo ridged up about them so as to blanch the greatest possible length of stem ; this, 

 however, should be done when the ground is in good working order. 



pcT pkt per o7. 



London Flag, large and fine 0 C 



XlZasselburg'b, very superior, may be grown ta the jveight of 3 oi- 4lbs 0 4..0 9 



New Giant, very large ...^.w,.y...^A-.;i?,4..>/l^ls<.-..i.f..i.«r...'. 0 4..1 0 



^^^^'''--^ ONIONS. 



Selection and Preparation of the Land. — A rather strong, deep, and rich loamy soil is 

 most suitable for this crop. Where very large bulbs arc desired, soil of this-character is indispen- 

 sable, and we think, moreover, that onions grown in a strong soil are much less liable to be attacked 

 by the fly or maggot than in light dry sandy soils. The ground should be heavily dressed with rich, 

 well rotted manure, trenclie<l deeply, and ridged up early in autumn, and if the soil is of a light 

 sandy nature, cow manure will be most suitable. 



Time and Method or Sowing. — The main crop should be sown as early as the ground may 

 be in working condition, and whether this occurs in February or early in March, a favourable oppor- 

 tunity for putting in the seed should not be suffered to pass. After levelling down the ridges, if the 

 soil is light, tread the ground regularly and closely over, then rake and well pulverise the surface, 

 making it as fine as possible. Set out the ground in four feet beds, with alleys a foot wide between, 

 draw drills half an inch to one inch dee]), six inches from each alley, and nine inches apart. Sow 

 the seeds thinly and regularly, and cover with the soil displaced in making the drills, or where this 

 is too lumpy, with other fin« soil. A sowing should also be made about the middle of August, to 

 furnish a supply of young onions during winter, and bulbs for use in summer before the main crop is 

 ready. Where small bulbs, such as are used for pickling, arc required, sow the SiUxr Skinned thickly, 

 early in May, upon the jioorest soil, and in the driest situation at command, and thin out very 

 sparingly. 



Ai'TEK Management. — This will consist in keeping the ground clear of weeds, by frequent 

 hoeings and thinning the i)lants, which should be done early, to from six to nine inches apart. In 

 dry, warm situations strong manure water may be given freely during the sununer, but where there 

 is any danger of the crop running to " thick necks," or not forming bulbs, watering should not be 

 ])ractised, exccjit when the weather is very warm and dry, and then not after July. Towards the 

 end of September the bulbs should be well formed, and the "tops show indications of ripening ; where 

 this is not the case go over the croi)s, bending or breaking them down with the back of a wooden 

 rake, and repeat this as often as may be necessary, to check the giwth of the tops cfiectually. As 

 soon as the bulbs seem to be projicrly matured, which will be known by the decay of the leaves, &c., 

 take them np, spread them in an airy shed, or sunny situation in the open air, until thoroughly 

 dried, and then store in a dry cool place till wanted for use. The Lancashire method of wintering 

 onions is perhaiw the best. "There they tie up the bulbs in what are called ropes, and hang them on 

 en outside wall, not facing the sun, and protect them from wet by placing a board against the wall 



