Market- Gardening. 
433 
the case of onions intended for " lofting'," forcing manures must 
be applied cautiously, as tbey induce a luxuriant growth; and 
as bulbs which have been grown too rapidly do not keep satis- 
factorily, the grower loses the chance of selling his crop at ] J /. 
per ton in March ! The cost of hoeing is 5Z. for the season. 
Turnip-seed or potatoes follow onions, with a dressing of 
guano for the former and of soot for the latter. Turnip-seed is 
grown for seedsmen who supply the farmer with stock seed, 
which is drilled at 24 inches apart, or the plants are transplanted 
from a seed-bed in November. One ploughing suffices for this 
•crop. The land is ploughed in autumn for potatoes and again 
in spring, and the sets are planted with a dibble at the second 
ploughing. In the case of early potatoes a wide furrow of 9 inches 
or 10 inches is given, and the sets are placed in alternate furrows. 
Late potatoes are planted in every third furrow of 8 inches or 
i) inches. 
A few other particulars may be briefly noticed. Early 
potatoes (which are not earthed), and scarlet runners are planted 
in alternate rows, the latter occupying the whole space between 
the rows (3 feet or 3^ feet) after the removal of the potatoes. A 
large breadth of cucumbers is grown. They are manured with 
perhaps 40 tons of dung per acre, planted thickly in rows, 
sheltered at 6 feet intervals by rows of rye or onion seed. Some 
growers sow many acres with this crop. Onion seed is also 
grown at 2-ft. intervals, and is sometimes supported by stakes 
and string, but more generally by earthing up. 
The lowest day-wages of the district are 125. a week ; gardeners, 
however, require skilled labour, and pay higher rates. A great 
deal of work is done by task. 
My note-taking in Bedfordshire was very much aided by the 
kind assistance of Mr. VV. Pope of Biggleswade. 
General Kemaeks. 
The preparation of the land for onions indicates that they 
prefer a solid surface. In the Essex district a ploughing is 
given before Christmas, a large quantity of short dung is spread 
on the land during frost, and is well knocked with a fork ; it is 
afterwards harrowed in with the seed. If dung be ploughed in, 
and especially if it be covered deeply, it is observed that the 
plant does not get hold of it until late in the season, and a 
rampant habit is induced at the end of June, when the onion 
ought to be bulbing. The consequences of ploughing in dung 
would perhaps be less injurious on old garden ground, which is 
full of manure. Lisbon onions for salads are sown in August or 
early in September. 
