chap, vi.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 179 
to prevent its thickening at the neck. Onions 
for pickling are generally sown in April; and 
onions for salads may be sown at intervals all 
the year. When onions are wanted of a 
very large size, they are sown in drills, and 
regularly earthed up; and the Portugal 
onions are generally transplanted. In Por¬ 
tugal it is said that the alleys between the 
beds are filled with manure, which is kept 
constantly watered, and the water directed 
over the beds. Onions of enormous size 
have been grown in England by raising them 
on a slight hotbed in November or Decem¬ 
ber, and transplanting them in April or May. 
When they are transplanted it is into very 
rich soil, three-fourths of which is rotten 
manure, and only the fibrous roots are buried 
in the soil, the bulb being left above ground. 
The plants are placed from nine inches to a 
foot apart every way, and regularly watered. 
Onions thus grown are not only of enormous 
size, but of very delicate flavour. Neither 
the native country of the common onion, nor 
the date of its introduction into England, is 
known. 
Leeks may be treated like onions, and may 
n 2 
