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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Febrnary  15,  1900 
ONIONS. 
In  the  sowing  operations  connected  with  the  kitchen  garden  the  Onion 
crop  is  one  of  the  first  to  claim  attention,  inasmuch  as  Onions  sown 
early  have  a  better  chance  of  attaining  to  some  size  and  strength  before 
the  Onion  fly  commences  to  attack  them.  Another  reason  for  early 
sowing  is  the  longer  season  of  growth  which  the  crop  can  have,  and 
thus  practically  insure  a  larger  size  in  the  bulbs  than  from  later  sown 
seeds.  Those,  however,  who  grow  for  exhibition  do  not,  as  a  rule, 
depend  on  outdoor  sowings,  but  provide  themselves  with  good  strong 
plants  from  January  sowings  in  boxes  in  a  cool  house.  When  sown 
thinly  in  boxes  and  judiciously  managed  the  young  plants  are  of 
sufficient  size  and  strength  for  planting  out  in  April  at  the  required 
distance  apart  for  forming  large  bulbs.  They  soon  become  established, 
when  the  cultural  operations  of  hoeing  and  feeding  may  be  com¬ 
menced  and  continued.  Even  by  sowing  in  February  in  boxes  earlier 
and  stronger  plants  may  be  secured,  which  when  planted  out  will 
rapidly  grow  beyond  the  attacks  of  the  Onion  fly,  so  for  this  reason  the 
extra  trouble  experienced  in  the  early  stages  is  amply  repaid  by  obtain¬ 
ing  a  more  successful  crop. 
Feeding. 
The  majority  of  growers  who  cultivate  Onions  for  general  use  adopt 
outdoor  sowing.  Onions  require  a  deep,  rich,  well-worked  soil  and 
an  open  sunny  position.  The  ground  should  be  freely  enriched, 
such  strong  manures  as  fowl,  pig,  and  night  soil  being  best  applied  in 
antumn  to  ground  intended  for  Onions ;  indeed  all  natural  manures, 
including  c'ow,  horse,  or  general  farmyard,  are  best  worked  into  the 
soil  some  time  previous  to  sowing,  turning  the  soil  well  at  the  same 
time.  Artificial  manures  are  appreciated  by  Onions  ;  nitrate  of  soda, 
kainit,  and  superphosphate  may  be  applied  at  the  rate  of  half  a  pound 
each  about  ten  days  before  sowing  to  a  square  rod  of  ground,  and  a 
similar  quantity  when  the  young  plants  are  3  inches  high. 
Liquid  Manures. 
Nitrate  of  soda  dissolved  in  water,  but  not  in  larger  quantity  than 
a  quarter  ounce  to  a  gallon,  acts  quickly  on  the  young  seedlings.  This 
stimulant  must  not  be  used  too  freely,  but  it  may  be  varied  by  an 
application  of  guano  1  oz.  to  the  gallon.  Liquid  manure  made  from 
strong  animal  manures  is  beneficial.  A  quarter  of  a  peck  to  half  a 
peck  of  fowl  manure  may  be  dissolved  in  30  gallons  of  water,  and  be 
given  frequently  during  active  growth.  Soot  water  is  another  good 
stimulant ;  this  is  made  by  tying  a  quarter  peck  of  soot  in  a  bag 
and  immersing  it  in  30  gallons  of  water.  Apply  this  alternately  with 
other  manures.  Stimulants  are  only  specially  necessary  when  the 
largest  sized  bulbs  are  sought  for,  but  good  ordinary  Onions  of  fair 
size  and  reliable  keeping  qualities  may  be  grown  on  ground  well  worked 
and  enriched. 
Seed  Sowing. 
Soil  prepared  for  Onions  in  autumn  may  be  further  forked  over 
prior  to  sowing,  and  it  is  good  practice  to  apply  a  dressing  of 
wood  ashes  and  soot,  working  these  well  into  the  surface,  breaking 
down  and  pulverising  the  lumpy  portions.  After  this  tread  the  surface 
firmly;  very  light  ground  might  be  advantageously  rolled ;  but  all  these 
operations  must  be  carried  out  in  dry  weather,  there! ore  it  is  best  to' 
choose  the  first  opportunity  in  February  for  doing  this.  When  ready 
for  sowing  rake  the  surface  fine  and  level.  The  rows  may  be  1  foot 
apart,  and  the  drills  can  be  formed  by  pressing  the  back  of  an  iron  rake 
into  the  soil  a  quarter  of  an  inch  deep,  having  a  garden  line  laid  for 
guidailce.  Scatter  the  seeds  thinly  along  the  drills,  and  cover  by 
drawihg  soil  over  them  from  the  outside,  pressing  down  firmly. 
‘  Hoeing  and  Thinning. 
Further  attention  will  not  be  necessary  until  the  seedlings  are  well 
through  the  soil,  when  a  light  Dutch  hoeing  will  be  beneficial.  After, 
wards  weeds  must  be  pulled  from  among  the  plants  and  a  preliminary 
thinning  given.  This  is  the  time  to  stimulate  growth  by  the  application 
of  artificial  manure  dressings  or  liquid  manure,  and  hoe  between  the 
plants  frequently,  for  this  keeps  down  weeds,  encourages  growth,  and 
prevents  evaporation  of  moisture  from  the  soil.  Thin  out  the  plants 
to  the  .final  distance  apart  as  soon  as  practicable. 
Plants  from  Boxes. 
Onions  sown  in  boxes  must  be  protected  from  the  weather  until  they 
are  hardy  enough  and  strong,  which  they  will  be  by  the  month  of  April 
if  gradually  inured  by  cool  frame  treatment.  It  is  desirable  to  give  the 
planted  out  Onions  exceptionally  good  soil,  which  may  be  prepared  now 
by  trenching  and  liberal  manuring.  When  the  time  arrives  for  planting 
out  draw  shallow  drills  12  inches  apart,  and  place  the  Onions  6  inches 
asunder.  Make  the  holes  so  that  the  roots  can  be  placed  straight 
downwards  and  not  be  curled  up  or  twisted.  Hoe  the  ground  frequently 
afterwards  to  promote  growth.  The  soil,  if  light,  may  be  made  firm 
previous  to  planting.  When  established  afford  the  plants  a  light 
dressing  of  nitrate  of  soda,  kainit,  and  superphosphate,  half  a  pound 
each  to  a  square  rod  of  ground,  and  work  it  in  with  the  Dutch  hoe. 
Light  dressings  of  pure  soot  are  always  beneficial  to  Onions,  fertilising 
the  ground  and  tending  to  keep  away  the  fly. — E.  Barrow. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
ANNUAL  GENERAL  MEETING. 
The  very  unpropitious  weather  that  has  prevailed  in  the  metropolis 
during  the  past  few  days  had  some  effect  on  the  number  of  persons 
attending  the  annual  general  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society  in  the  Lindley  Library  on  Tuesday  afternoon.  Sir  Trevor 
Lawrence,  Bart.,  V.H.M.,  occupied  the  chair,  and  was  supported  by 
several  members  of  the  Council,  while  in  front  of  the  table  were  to 
be  seen  a  very  representative  gathering  of  both  amateur  and  profes¬ 
sional  horticulturists.  Such  preliminary  business  as  the  reading  of  the 
minutes  of  the  previous  annual  meeting  was  quickly  disposed  of,  and 
a  considerable  number  of  ne,w  Fellows  were  elected.  The  report  and 
balance-sheet  given  hereunder,  having  been  previously  distributed,  were 
taken  as  read. 
Report  of  the  Council  for  the  Year  1899-1900. 
The  year  1899-1900  has  been  one  of  continued  prosperity  for  the  Society. 
A  large  sum  of  money  has  been  spent  on  the  Lindley  Library  in 
recent  years,  and  the  Council  have  now  had  the  books  enclosed  in 
glass-fronted  cases  for  the  double  purpose  of  preservation  and 
cleanliness.  This  has  greatly  improved  the  appearance  of  the  library. 
A  catalogue  has  been  published  at  the  price  of  2s.  6d.  in  the  hope 
that  many  Fellows  would  purchase  it,  not  only  to  inform  themselves 
what  books  tl  e  library  contains,  but  also  because  it  forms  in  itself  a 
reference  list  to  the  bibliography  of  gardening.  It  would  be  gratify¬ 
ing  if  Fellows  would  also  take  note  of  books  still  wanting  to  the 
library,  with  a  view  to  presenting  them. 
During  the  past  year  valuable  books  have  been  presented  by  the 
Director  of  the  Royal  Gardens  at  Kew,  Dr.  Maxwell  Masters,  F.R.S., 
Miss  M.  J.  King,  the  Rev.  Professor  Henslow,  V.M.H.,  Monsieur 
Correvon,  Monsieur  Bois,  and  others,  to  all  of  whom  the  best  thanks 
of  the  Society  are  due.  A  full  list  will  be  published  on  April  1st  in 
the  Society’s  “Journal,”  vol.  xxiii.,  part  3. 
A  corrected  list  of  the  awards  made  by  the  Society  to  plants, 
flowers,  fruits  and  vegetables  to  the  end  of  1899  is  being  prepared, 
and  will  be  issued  during  the  coming  year. 
Application  is  frequently  made  to  the  Society  by  Fellows  desiring 
to  have  special  advice  respecting  their  gardens.  The  Council  have 
therefore  resolved  to  add  a  right  to  this  to  the  privileges  of  Fellow¬ 
ship  and  to  send  a  competent  inspector  to  report  and  advise  at  the 
following  charges — viz.,  a  fee  of  £2  2s.  for  one  day  (or  £3  3s.  for 
two  days,  when  necessary),  together  with  all  out-of-pocket  expenses. 
No  inspection  may  take  up  more  than  two  dajs. 
Under  the  head  of  ordinary  expenditure  at  Chiswick  £1810  has 
been  spent  on  the  general  work  and  maintenance  of  the  gardens. 
The  receipts  by  sale  of  surplus  produce  amount  to  £330,  making  the 
nett  ordinary  cost  of  the  gardens  £1480. 
Chiswick  Gardens. 
The  Council  wish  to  call  attention  to  the  good  work  being  done  at 
Chiswick  under  Mr.  Wright’s  superintendence  not  only  in  the  garden 
but  among  the  students.  During  the  last  two  years,  for  example — 
of  our  Chiswick  students,  one  has  taken  a  First  Class  in  Honours  in 
Science  and  Art,  one  a  First  in  Advanced  Botany,  two  a  First  in 
Elementary  Botany  at  South  Kensington;  one  has  been  appointed 
curator  of  the  Botanic  Gardens  at  Antigua ;  seven  have  taken  a  First 
Class  in  the  R.H.S.  Examination  in  Horticulture;  two  have  set  up 
in  business  for  themselves  ;  four  have  obtained  positions  at  the  Royal 
Gardens,  Kew  ;  one  at  Kensington  Gardens ;  two  at  Messrs.  Veitch’s ; 
one  at  Messrs.  Low’s;  three  in  other  large  nurseries;  and  one  is 
editor,  and  another  is  on  the  editorial  staff,  of  a  garden  paper.  Mr. 
Wright  reports  to  the  Council  “  The  demand  for  energetic  trust¬ 
worthy  young  men  from  Chiswick  is  rapidly  increasing ;  there  is  no 
difficulty  in  placing  such  in  good  situations,  our  supply  being  unequal 
to  the  demand,  but  they  must  all  he  tvorkers.” 
The  Committees. 
At  Westminster  twenty-one  Fruit  and  Floral  meetings  have  been 
held  in  the  Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Victoria  Street,  besides  the 
larger  shows  in  the  Temple  Gardens  on  May  Slst,  June  1st  and  2nd, 
and  at  the  Crystal  Palace  on  September  28th,  29th,  and  30th.  An 
International  Conference  on  Hybridisation  was  held  at  Chiswick  and 
Westminster  Town  Hall  on  July  11th  and  12th.  Lectures  and 
demonstrations  have  been  delivered  at  nineteen  of  the  meetings. 
The  number  of  awards  granted  by  the  Council,  on  the  recommenda¬ 
tion  of  the  various  Committees,  is  as  under: — -Gold  Flora  medal,  1; 
R.H.S.  gold  medal,  22;  silver  cup,  24;  Hogg  Memorial  medal,  1; 
silver-gilt  Flora,  28  ;  silver-gilt  Knightian,  23  ;  silver-gilt  Banksian,  34 ; 
silver  Flora,  97  ;  silver  Knightian,  21 ;  silver  Banksian,  170  ;  bronze 
Flora,  20 ;  bronze  Knightian,  3  ;  bronze  Banksian,  44 ;  first-class 
certificate,  65  ;  award  of  merit,  291 ;  botanical  certificate,  16  ;  cultural 
commendation,  42  ;  highly  commended,  8  ;  commended,  1 ;  total,  931. 
In  addition  to  the  above,  1  silver-gilt  Flora  has  been  awarded  to 
Mr.  H.  H.  Eaton  for  having  passed  first  in  the  Society’s  examination  ; 
and  94  bronze  Banksian  medals  have  also  been  granted  to  cottagers’ 
societies. 
The  Council  desire  to  draw  the  attention  of  Fellows  of  the  Society 
to  the  more  extended  use  which  the  Scientific  Committee  might  be 
to  them  if  they  availed  themselves  more  freely  of  their  privileges  in 
