21 



room than the other varieties and pods earher. The latter is the 

 variety principally used by soup canners. Considering its prolific 

 and continuous podding under our conditions, this crop might 

 prove profitable for drying, and exporting, considerable quantities 

 being: used in that form. 



'fc> 



ONIONS — Alliuni cepa. 

 F. ognon. G. zwiebel. P. cebola. 



With dry bulbs at from two to four cents per pound in the 

 Honolulu market, with a large and constant demand, it seems 

 a little strange that no- enterprising truck-gardener should have 

 undertaken the culture of onion bulbs on a sufficiently large scale 

 to supply, at least, island needs. At present large quantities are 

 imported from California and Australia. 



While the onion crop is most exacting, under skilled manage- 

 ment, a number of varieties do exceedingly well here. Not quite 

 as prolific and large, perhaps, as the California product, yet suf- 

 ficiently so, and of such excellent quality that we can ordinarily 

 compete with the imported article. 



At Kamehameha Farm, the Australian Brown variety has suc- 

 ceeded best, while not so large as som.e of the standard American 

 sorts, it is unusually firm and a splendid keeper. 



Prize Taker and Large Red Withersfield, two favorite Califor- 

 nia varieties, have also done fairly well with us, likewise Yellow 

 Danvers. 



Anyone contemplating onion culture for bulbs, should make an 

 exhaustive veriety test, covering several seasons. Fully twenty 

 standard sorts are listed by seedsmen and it may require several 

 years of careful selection to produce a strain that will best meet 

 local conditions. 



A reasonable price should be paid for seed and that of best 

 quality only sown. Cheap onion seed is usually worse than use- 

 less, and is dear at any price, as the writer can attest from the 

 handling of miany tons as a seedsman. 



Prices fluctuate from year to year, single pound lots range from 

 75 cents to $2.00 per pound, according to variety and season. 



Sown in drills 12 to 18 inches apart requires from 5 to 8 

 pounds of seed to the acre. One ounce will sow 100 feet of drill. 



It will pay to utilize the richest soil available for this crop. 

 Next to fertility, freedom from weed-seeds is of most importance. 



