the onion; is by Linnaeus referred to the genus of allium; the botanic difference of it from garlic is, the swelling papy stalks, which is much larger in the middle than at either end. The varieties are, the Strathburgh, the Spanish, and the Egyptian onion. They are propagated by seeds, which should be sown the latter end of February, or the beginning of March, on good, light, rich ground, well dug and levelled, and cleared from weeds. They should also be sown at a time when the surface of the ground is not moist; and where they are intended for a winter crop they must not be sown too thick. The common allowance is five pounds of seed to an acre; though some allow more, in order to have a crop to draw out, which they call cuttings. In about six weeks after, the onions will be up and forward enough to hoe; at which time the weeds should be lightly cut up with a small hoe, about two inches and a half broad, as also the onions themselves where they grow too close in bunches, leaving them at this first time, at least two or three inches apart. This, if properly performed, and in a dry season, will preserve the ground clear of weeds at least a month, when they must be hoed over again, leaving them at this time about four or five inches asunder. In six weeks after, they must be hoed a third time. The weeds are now to be carefully cut up, and the onions singled out so as to leave them about six inches square, by which means they will grow much larger than if left too close. This, if well performed, in case the weather proves dry, will keep the onions till they are fit to pull; but if the weather should prove moist, and any of the weeds take root again, the weeds must be pulled out with the hand; for the onions having now begun to bulb, must not be disturbed with a hoe. Towards the middle of August the onions will have arrived at their full growth, which may be known by their blades falling to the ground and shrinking. At this time therefore, before their necks or blades are withered off, they should be drawn out of the ground, the extreme part of the blade cut off, and the onions laid upon a dry spot of ground, obliterating to turn them every other day at least, to prevent them from taking root again; which in moist weather they would be apt to do. At any rate they are very apt to grow in the lofts where they are kept all winter; the most effectual method of preventing which is, with a hot iron, slightly to touch their beards or roots, which will effectually prevent their sprouting; but in doing this, great caution must be used not to scorch the pulp; for that will cause them to perish soon after. In order to save seeds, you must in the spring make choice of some of the largest, firmest, and best shaped onions, (in quantity proportionable to the seed you intend to save) and having prepared a piece of good ground, which should be well dug, and laid out in beds about three feet wide, the onions must be planted in the beginning of March in the following manner: Having strained a line of about four inches within the side of the bed, you must with a spade throw out an opening five inches deep, the length of the bed, into which you should place the onions with their roots downward, at about nine inches distance from each other; and with a rake draw the earth into the opening again to cover cover the bulbs; then proceed to remove the line again about a foot farther back, where you must make an opening as before, and so again, till the whole is finished, by which you will have four rows in each bed; between each bed you must allow the space of two feet for an alley to go among them. In a month's time the leaves will appear above ground, and many of the roots will produce three or four stalks each.

About the beginning of June, when the flowers begin to appear, the stalks must be tied to stakes to prevent them from being broken by their own weight. About the end of August the seed will be ripe, which may be known by the opening of the cells which contain it, and its changing to a brown colour. When the heads are cut off, they should be spread abroad upon coarse cloths in the sun, observing to keep it under shelter in the night, as also in wet weather. When the heads are quite dry, the seeds should be beat out from them; and after being cleared from the husks, and exposed one day to the sun to dry, they may be put up in bags for use.

Besides the above mentioned species of onions, the scallions, or scallions, Welsh onions, and cives were formerly in great repute. The former is a sort which never forms any bulbs at the roots, and was chiefly used in the spring for green onions; but is now become so scarce as hardly to be known. Some gardeners instead of the scallion, substitute such onions as decay and sprout in the house. These they plant in a bed early in the spring, and in a short time they become large enough for use. The true scallion is easily propagated by parting the roots either in spring or autumn; but the latter is preferable. The roots should be planted three or four in a hole, and about six inches distance every way.

The cives are a very small sort of onion, which never produce any bulbs, and seldom grow above five inches high in the blade, which is very small and slender. They grow in round bunches like the former. They are propagated by parting their roots like the former, and are very hardy.

The Welsh onions are propagated only for spring use; they never make any bulbs, and are therefore fit only to be used green for salads. They are sown in the end of July, in beds about three feet and a half wide. In a fortnight's time they appear above ground, but in October their blades die, and the ground becomes quite naked; in January, however, they will again appear very strong, and in March will be fit to draw for young onions.

Onions are supposed to afford little nourishment; and, when eaten liberally, produce flatulencies, occasion thirst, head-ache, and turbulent dreams; in cold phlegmatic habits, where viscid mucus abounds, they are undoubtedly of use, by their stimulatory and attenuating qualities. By some they are strongly recommended in suppressions of urine and dropsies. Their chief medicinal use at present, however, is in external applications, as a cataplasm for suppurring tumours, &c.