THE ONION. 



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satisfactory one ; and whilst in hardly any case did seed fail to 

 germinate, still further, maggot or mildew, the two chief pests of 

 Onions, gave very little trouble. The bulb produce was good — in 

 some cases very so ; not large, but even, firm, and especially 

 expository of the merits of the respective varieties. The Fellows 

 of the Society generally perhaps do not visit the Chiswick 

 Gardens so frequently as they might, and when there do not, 

 perhaps, take that technical interest in trials, or other matters 

 conducted there, which they should. Especially, no doubt, would 

 a trial of Onions prove unattractive to the bulk, but, happily, 

 there are some members who can find in anything horticultural, 

 however unattractive or humble, material of interest ; and thus 

 even an Onion trial has found admirers. Indeed, as Onions are of 

 two diverse sections, those suitable for spring sowing and winter 

 keeping, and those for autumn sowing, and are short-lived, a further 

 trial of this latter section has already commenced, although 

 some were in the trial to which allusion is made. Now out of 

 some forty so-called varieties in fifty rows — for several were 

 duplicates — the members of the Fruit and Vegetable Committee, 

 who attended at Chiswick on summons at a specified date 

 for the purpose of deciding on the merits of the respective 

 sorts, did for the honour of three marks select seven, some 

 old, some new, or at least reputed new. In awarding such the 

 Committee put aside every partial or preconceived impression, 

 and judged of what was before them purely by their merits as pre- 

 sented, and for this unbiassed action they have been severely 

 taken to task. The criticism is amusing, because it comes from 

 sources that are evidently strongly partisan, but it would be an 

 evil day for the Royal Horticultural Society were its committees, 

 who should be in their awards absolutely honourable and 

 courageous, to be pressed or otherwise intimidated from doing 

 what is but right and just by any external influence. When it is 

 remembered that at the Vegetable Conference held at Chiswick 

 in 1889 Certificates of Merit were awarded to no less than 

 twenty-two Onions diversely named, it surely should have been re- 

 garded as an exhibition of high virtue and severe self-restraint that 

 this year only seven varieties were "Highly Commended." Passing 

 from this somewhat contentious theme to the consideration of 

 Onions in their diverse forms and varieties, we find them divided 

 into flat and globular or round. In these forms there are. 



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