60 
THE GROWTH Of ONIONS. 
But enough of this stuff, let us mark his conclusion. He says, “ sup¬ 
posing, however, that metal houses, when painted, were greater con¬ 
ductors of caloric than wood, and the hothouses thereby raised, could 
not every evil be easily counteracted by admitting a little more air P 
How then could pines, vines, or any other plants be injured by heat 
arising from a metallic roof P” No doubt by this the temperature 
might he lowered, but every gardener knows that this requires more 
attention and trouble, and even at some periods would not he condu¬ 
cive to the health of the plants, particularly the pine, This is not 
all however, observe the counterpart, when the air on the outside is 
very cold, what is to supply the deficiency by the radiation of heat 
from the inside ? Of necessity by applying stronger fires, which re¬ 
quires more attention, trouble and expence, and regularity less cer¬ 
tain. In fire it is well known that metal houses cost double the ex¬ 
pense of wooden ones, and to demonstration has it been proved that 
their duration is less. They require more attendance, trouble and 
expense, both in repairs and otherwise, fruits &c. Plants have been 
grown in wooden houses to equal at least, if not to surpass those 
grown in metal ones. Where lies then their superiority ? 
Ephebicus Horticultor. 
Nov. 16, 1832. 
ARTICLE V. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE GROWTH OF ONIONS. 
BY CEPA. 
The following observations on an article in your last number are 
submitted to your judgment for insertion in a future number by one 
of your subscribers. 
Notwithstanding the assurance which your contributor I. T. (see 
Register, page 724) received from his acquaintance the Portuguese 
gentleman, I much question if it he possible, by any mode of cul¬ 
ture, to grow onions in this country equal to those which are impor¬ 
ted from Portugal. It is the opinion of one at least of our most 
eminent Horticulturalists, that the best of an English summer is not 
sufficient to forward the onion to perfect maturity ; and with a view 
to remedy in some degree this defect of climate, Mr. Knight advises 
to plant out in the spring, small bulbs of the last year’s growth, for 
the purpose of being enlarged and matured by the heat of the fol- 
