Onions. 
87 
maturity,  and  to  spread  their  myriads  of  dark  seeds  (spores)  all 
over  the  field. ^ 
Onions. — The  Onion  is  entitled  to  rank  amongst  the  oldest 
of  cultivated  vegetables.  It  has  a wide  geographical  distribu- 
tion. A good  crop  of  Onions  is  one  of  the  most  profitable  of 
vegetables,  and  is  worth  from  40k  to  (50/.  ])er  acre.  An 
average  crop  would  be  about  10  tons  per  acre,  but  that  is 
sometimes  doubled,  and  as  the  price  of  Onions  usually  varies 
between  3/.  10s.  and  4/.  10s.  per  ton  its  value  as  a market 
garden  crop  is  easily  estimated. 
Onions  apj)ear  to  be  more  successful  when  grown  upon 
light  soil  than  upon  very  heavy  and  clayey  soil.  I have 
frequently  grown  crops  at  the  rate  of  1.5  tons  to  23  tons  per 
acre  upon  the  former,  but  never  upon  the  latter.  For  the 
above-mentioned  eroj)s  the  ground  should  be  dug  thoroughly 
from  ten  to  twelve  inches  in  depth,  and  stal)le  manure  should 
be  applied  at  the  rate  of  20  tons  per  acre.  The  soil  is  thrown 
up  roughly  and  left  to  the  action  of  the  weather  for  several 
weeks.  It  is  then  worked  over  with  the  fork  or  the  harrow, 
and  pulverised  and  levelletl  down  for  reception  of  the  seed. 
Early  in  March,  before  the  middle  of  the  month,  if  possible, 
the  seed  is  sown  in  drills  one  foot  apart,  and  at  the  rate  of  14  lb. 
per  acre  ; and  if  the  soil  is  very  light  it  is  gently  pressed  over 
the  .seed  after  the  seed  is  covered.  Nothing  more  is  done  until 
Tons  cwt. 
21  11 
Yield  per  acre. 
Tons  cwt. 
2 .6 
Tons  cwt. 
23  15 
A B C 
((fn  idcii  refuse  only)  (Chemical  manure  only)  (Stable  ami  chemical 
manure) 
Fig.  8.— Onions  grown  in  1902. 
* For  further  particulars  as  to  the  cultivation  or  iflentification  of  Mush- 
rooms, the  reader  is  referred  to  the  following:  How  to  Grow  Mushrooms:  a 
popular  erplawitlon  of  the  best  method  of  culture,  by  William  Earley  (Bradbury, 
Agnew&  Co.);  Tahleau-e  Sijnoptiques  des  Champignons  Comestibles  et  Veneneux, 
par  Charles  Manget.  Paris.  190.S  ; Mushroom  Culture  for  Amateurs,  by  W.  J. 
May  (Ij.  Upcott  Gill),  London,  1900. 
