605 



particular. If smaller buLclies are desired than the smallest cup tliat 

 can be found, it is not necessary to fill the cup." 



Two thousand bands suitable for bunchinf^ are contained in 1 pound, 

 and they can be [)ui(;hased for $2. Two bands are used for a bunch. 



Trans-plantinf/ onions. — Experiments in transplanting onions have 

 extended through three seasons (1888-90). The results agree, as tlio 

 author is careful to state, with those obtained from similar experiments 

 by T. Greiner, an account of which was published in 1889. 



The phiu foUowoil here has been to sow seed in the greoiihouso, iu trays or flats, 

 about six weeks in advance of the time that the j^roimd is usually fit to work out of 

 doors. Sowings were made the past season February 25. Tiie seed came up 

 promptly and more uniformly than that sown out of doors, while the plants advanced 

 rapidly iu growtii, being (5 to 8 inches in height by the middle of April. As soon as 

 the ground was dry enough to work, two beds were prepared in the garden, side by 

 side, the manner of preparation, manuring, etc., being alike for both. Iu one bed 

 seed was sown of the same varieties that had been started in the greenhouse, iu rows 

 1 foot apart, care being taken to use sufficient to secure a good stand. AVheu the 

 onions in this bed had reached the proper size the plants were thinned so as to stand 

 the same distance apart as those in the other bed. The second bed was filled with 

 the young plants from the greenhouse. The plants were placed 3 inches apart in 

 the rows, the distance between the rows being 1 foot. 



The results in both beds are reported in tabular form for IG varieties. 

 In every case the transi>lanted onions yielded best, the increase from 

 transplanting in some cases amounting to 100 per cent. These causes 

 are held to account for this increase: 



"(1) Longer period of growth of the transplanted onions than those 

 sown in the field. The transplanted onions ripened earlier than the 

 others, and yet had a longer time in which to grow before the hot 

 weather came. (2) The transplanted onions had decidedly the advan- 

 tage of nuiking the greater share of their growth early in the season, 

 during the cool weather, before the others hnd fairly started. (3) The' 

 transplanted onions were much more uniform in isize than those grown 

 from seed sown in the open ground." 



This gain in earliness can be utilized to produce green or bunch 

 onions from seed in the place of sets. The late foreign varieties were 

 particularly benefited by this treatment, lied Eocca, Pompeii, Prize- 

 taker, Madrid, and White Victoria gave an average increased yield of 

 78 per cent, due to transplanting. 



The difference in yield between transplanted onions and those grown from seed 

 would evidently bo much greater some seasons than others, because the ability to 

 secure a perfect slaud from seed sown iu the field depends laigely upon the weather, 

 vitality of the seed, and character of the soil. These elements of failure do not 

 ai)pear when transplanting is practiced uuless the seed is nearly worthless, since but 

 few plants perish in transplanting. Possibly, with all conditions favorable, and 

 upon mucky soils, there would be but little dittereuce iu the yield securerl by the two 

 methods, especially with Dauvers and Wethersfield. On clay soils, similar to that 

 upon which the experiment was tried, it is probable that the difference would be 

 even greater in most seasons than iu 1890, since the conditions were then uncommonly 

 favorable for the securing of a good stand. 



