SOME ONIONS 
The Potato Onion is not largely cultivated in some 
parts of the kingdom ; in others it is a great favourite, 
especially in small gardens, and more so in the southern 
part of the kingdom. It is called the Underground 
Onion also, and as regards culture it somewhat resembles 
the Shallot, but is distinct. All the three varieties here 
described are different from the ordinary kinds, and they 
are useful as they rarely fail. The small bulbs of the 
Potato variety are planted singly, and in warm situations, 
such as Devon or Cornwall, it is usually the rule to 
plant on the shortest day and take up the crop on the 
longest ; but this rule does not hold good in heavy land 
or cold situations, as March would be early enough to 
plant and August to lift. The bulbs are planted in 
well-manured land, in rows i8 inches apart and half 
that distance between the plants ; the soil is made fairly 
firm previous to planting, and the bulbs are pressed 
down in the soil and made firm. The plant or old 
bulb forms clusters of young bulbs round the old one, 
and when extra fine roots are desired, it is a good plan 
to place spent manure between the rows or feed with 
liquid manure or a quick acting fertiliser. By mulching 
or earthing up when the growths are a good size, the 
plant is induced to form better clusters, and at that time 
there should be no lack of moisture till the young bulbs 
are full sized, and only withheld as they begin to ripen. 
When stored they will remain sound a long time if 
placed in a cool airy store. This variety is not raised 
from seed, and it is more valuable for early supplies 
than later, as the other varieties are then more plentiful. 
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