90 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



another ; and if it be deemed necessary to manure it, prefer a 

 compost of decomposed stable-dung, cow-dung, and earth, for 

 any compost is preferable to simple dung, as being less likely 

 to breed maggots. 



The latter end of this month may be considered as the pro- 

 per time to sow a full crop of onions, if the land be of a mid- 

 dling texture ; but if it be wet and heavy, we would recom- 

 mend to defer the sowing till the subsequent month, or the 

 first week in April. Any of the following sorts may be sown 

 at this time, the Strasburg, Deptford, Spanish, Portugal, the 

 silver-skinned, red-skinned, &c. ; the two former, however, 

 which are considered by some to be the same species, produce 

 the most abundant crops, and are allowed to be the best 

 keepers. 



Sow any of the above-mentioned kinds in four feet beds, 

 thinly, and cover to the thickness of a quarter of an inch ; or 

 in shallow drills, nine or ten inches apart, also thinly. The 

 drill system is to be preferred, both for neatness and utility, as 

 by this method, the crop can be hoed, which will destroy the 

 weeds, and by occasionally stirring the surface, greatly pro- 

 mote the growth of the plants, particularly when the bulbs are 

 swelling. A little lettuce or celery-seed may be thinly sown 

 along with them, but this must be done sparingly. 



Rake all smooth, but in neither case must the seed be trodden 

 in, unless the ground be very dry indeed. Onions intended 

 for pickling should be sown in poor ground, or under the shade 

 of trees, to keep them small. The Strasburg is generally 

 sown for principal crops, and next, the Deptford ; the small 

 silver-skinned and two-bladed are the best for pickling. The 

 Portugal and Spanish yield large crops for early use, and 

 should, in cold situations, be sown in March. The Strasburg 

 is hardy, and stands the winter, if sown in September, or the 

 latter end of August. 



WINTER CROP OF ONIONS. 



The crop of winter onions, or that which has been sown in 

 the end of August or beginning of September, should now be 

 gone over about the end of the month, and cleared from weeds; 



