THE ONION. 



215 



find that he is quite out of the running, because his competitors 

 have, under the modern system of culture, produced bulbs that 

 are twice, thrice, or four times bigger than his are. The 

 practice to which I refer is summed up in a few w T ords. Sow 

 seed in warmth early in January, transplant the seedlings into 

 pans or boxes so soon as 3 inches in height, grow on in 

 warmth until the plants are doubly strong, then stand them 

 in a cooler house or frame to gradually harden. Some, per- 

 haps, may be put singly into small pots. In any case, towards 

 the end of April, the plants being stout, hardened, and each 

 having a mass of roots, are transplanted out on to warm borders 

 or in sheltered places, and on soil that has been trenched 

 and heavily dressed with half-decayed manure. They are put 

 out in rows some 15 to 18 inches apart, and at least 12 to 

 14 inches apart in the rows. During the summer they are 

 kept well watered and fed with mulchings of manure, also 

 with dressings of chemical manure, being literally pampered 

 and fattened as beasts are for exhibition, until during the season 

 they become of inordinate dimensions. Some bulbs grown by 

 Mr. WilMns, of Inwood House, exceeded three pounds in weight, 

 and were of good form. These were of the flatter form found 

 in the variety Ailsa Craig. Other growers of huge bulbs on this 

 system are Mr. Kneller, Malshanger; Mr. Bowerman, Hackwood 

 Park; Mr. Pope, Highclere ; Mr. Lye, Sydmonton Court; Mr. 

 Waite, Glenhurst, and others, though, on the w T hole, none excel 

 Mr. Wilkins in the dimensions of his bulbs. I saw the whole of 

 this grower's bulbs in the autumn when stored — a truly wonderful 

 lot— and I also saw T the ground from which they had been taken, 

 which resembled a mass of humus or a manure -bed, so thickly 

 was it coated w r ith that material. It may well be asked what 

 gain attaches to this sort of Onion production. I have never yet 

 heard of a market for these bulbs, other than prize competitions 

 present. That is, however, a very fluctuating market, and it may 

 collapse at any moment, because it has a very uncertain and 

 meretricious basis. So long as the eye, sense, and knowledge of 

 judges of Onions are set aside, that the scale alone may decide 

 which is biggest, Onion-judging is far from being a desirable 

 occupation. When, however, mere bigness, without correspond- 

 ing qualities of usefulness, beauty, firmness, and keeping quali- 

 ties, finds no favour, and the latter qualities are permitted to 



