ONION. 
(Allium Cepa.) 
French, Ognon. 
CULTURAL NOTES. 
plants should be put out on a well-prepared site as soon as the weather is 
Soil, and Preparation. Onions require to be grown on rich mellow 
ground, of a somewhat light texture, but an adhesive loam, or even a clay, 
may be made suitable by the addition of sand, well-rotted manure, or 
decayed vegetable matter. Deep digging is of paramount importance, and 
should be carried out in autumn or early winter. Early in February a 
dressing of ground lime at the rate of four ounces per square yard will be 
advantageous, and a week or so in advance of sowing seed a light dressing 
of soot and salt, in equal proportions, may be raked in. A fine and level 
surface is wanted for the seed-bed. Light soil should be trodden over to 
consolidate it, and the surface worked to a regular and finely crumbled 
texture. 
Spring-sown Onions. March and April are the usual.months for 
spring sowing, although on light soil seed is sometimes put in as early as 
January. The drills may vary from nine to twelve inches apart according 
to the character of the variety and the size of the bulbs required. Imme- 
diately the rows are defined a first thinning should be made. If only 
medium-sized bulbs are wanted severe thinning is not necessary, otherwise 
the plants should be allowed to stand at six to nine inches apart. The 
Onion Grub is often very destructive to the plant, especially in its early 
favourable. 
rows nine to twelve inches apart. 
The process of transplanting is 
shown in the accompanying 
illustration. 
July and August Sow- 
ing. Seed of quick-growing 
types of Onion sown during 
July and August will provide 
an abundant supply of salading 
and a serviceable crop of small 
bulbs during the autumn and 
onwards. It is important to 
thin the plants early in order 
to give those left standing in 
the rows every opportunity of 
developing rapidly. 
Autumn-sown Onions 


Give each a space of fifteen inches in the rows, and place the 
1/1 

intended for use in the follow- 
ing summer may also be sown 
in August. Thin the plants in 
the rows, and transplant the 
thinnings if required, as soon 
as weather permits in February. 
In places where spring-sown Onions do not ripen in good time in 
consequence of cold wet weather, autumn sowing will generally prove 
advantageous, as the ripening will take place when the summer is at its best. 
Yyy iy | 
Wij 2. 
TRANSPLANTING ONIONS. 
1. Removing seedlings from box. 
2. Plants put out in rows. 
3. Correct depth to plant. 
4. Pot-grown seedling ready for planting out. 
stages, and its presence may be known by the ‘grass’ becoming yellow 
and falling to the ground. Frequent dustings of soot and lime will be 
found an effectual preventive. 
To obtain very large Onions seed of the large-growing kinds may 
be sown in autumn and the seedlings transplanted in spring to a bed of 
rich soil. Some growers sow under glass in December and January. When 
large enough the seedlings are pricked out three inchés apart in shallow 
boxes of rich soil, or in pots, and grown on in a minimum temperature 
of 55°, affording ventilation whenever possible. 
After careful hardening the 
Sutton’s Selected Ailsa Craig. 
THE LARGEST AND HEAVIEST CROPPING ONION. Our pedigree 
strain of this Onion is unrivalled for perfection of form combined with size 
and weight. In competition with all other varieties this popular Onion has 
won a series of Prizes quite without parallel. Space only permits of our 
publishing three examples of the many hundreds of reports sent us by 
customers who have grown this Onion. Seed very scarce. (See accompanying 
illustration, and also in colours page 23) per packet, 2s. 6d. 
THE RECORD Crop.—‘I consider your Selected Ailsa Craig to be the finest type of Onion in 
cultivation. The two heaviest bulbs weighed 8 lbs., 12 heaviest bulbs 424 lbs., and the 100 heaviest 
bulbs 300 lbs. The 600 bulbs in the bed weighed 1,405 ibs.—an average of 2 Ibs. 5 ozs. 
per bulb.’—(Grown in the Gardens at Culham Court.) From the late Gardener at Culham Court. 
‘From the 3-ounce of seed of your Selected Ailsa Craig the weight of the crop is 8 cwt. 26 lbs. 
The largest Onion weighed 3 lbs. 2 ozs., and the 12 largest bulbs weighed 34 lbs. 3 ozs,.’— 
Mr. E. G. JACKMAN, Gardener to Mrs. HANN. 
‘I have a magnificent lot of Onions from your Selected Ailsa Craig seed, many of the bulbs 
weighing over 2 lbs. each. From a bed measuring 10 yards by 7 yards | have lifted well over 
5 cwt. of grand bulbs, which are keeping well (January 4)..—Mr. WILLIAM EpGE, Normanton. 

COPYRIGHT S. &S, 
SUTTON’S SELECTED AILSA CRAIG. Ailsa Craig. (Original stock.) An excellent substitute for Sutton’s Selected Ailsa 
Craig where large breadths are required, and bulbs are not grown especially for 
exhibition per packet, ls. and 1s. 6d.; ounce, 3s. 
Sutton’s A 1. From the comparative trials of all kinds of Onion made in our 
Experimental Grounds year after year, we consider this to be one of the most 
valuable varieties both for spring and autumn sowing. The admirable form, 
immense size, and fine keeping qualities of this magnificent Onion have ensured 
its increasing popularity. In shape Sutton’s A 1 Onion is midway between our 
Improved Reading and The Sutton Globe; skin brownish-yellow, and the bulbs keep 
sound for an extraordinary time. As examples of the great size attained by this 
Onion’ we may mention that specimens weighing 2 lbs. 13 oz. and 2 lbs. 5 oz. have 
been reported to us by a customer. First-class Certificate, Royal Horticultural Society. 
(Illustrated) per packet, 1s. 6d. and 2s. 6d. 
‘Your Ar Onion was grand. People came expressly to look at the crop and all declared 
they had never before seen such Onions on the allotments. The bulbs were very even in size, 
the majority weighing from ?-lb. to 1 lb. each, and they are keeping sound now (January 7).’— 
Mr. C, Cross, Eblands Place. 
The Sutton Globe. The beautiful form and bright colour of this distinct Onion 
show to advantage on the exhibition stage, and for its delicate flavour it is welcome in 
every household, especially as this is one of the solid, long-keeping varieties 
per packet, 1s. 6d. and 2s. 6d.; ounce, 3s. 

CUPYRIGHT §, &S, 
SUTTON’S A 1. 
SUTTON & SONS, Seed Growers and Merchants, READING, ENGLAND. | 


