462 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of fertilizers, manure and lime, supply and cost of labor, rotation 

 of crops, proper tools, storage, and irrigation — all have their 

 place in the list of important factors for a successful onion crop, 

 and the growers' problem is how to properly use and combine 

 these factors. 



In Minnesota the onion will always be a leading vegetable 

 crop. In the vicinity of the Twin Cities, which must continue 

 to be one of the leading market garden centers of the country, 

 an increased acreage for onions must be used to supply an in- 

 creased demand. Minnesota has favorable climatic conditions 

 for onions, a cool planting and growing season, followed by a 

 dry, moderately warm and fairly late summer. Scattered over 

 the state there is an abundance of muck land, such as is found 

 in Michigan, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and other onion pro- 

 ducing states. Surely this state has great opportunities in its 

 future agriculture, and the onion has its place as a crop possi- 

 bility. 



Mr. Miller : In setting out onions for seed, does it make any 

 difference if you set two kinds together? Will they cross? 



Mr. Tapley: Onions generally will not cross. 



Mr. Baldwin : I wish to differ with the professor in that 

 respect. I put out white globes and red globes, both of them, 

 and I carefully watched the seed and seeded next year, and on 

 the red globes I had just about one-fifth white with a tinge of 

 red on the outside of every one, and I am sure there was no seed 

 mixed with it. 



Mr. Tapley: Yes, sir, where any great quantities of 

 varieties are planted and grown for seed, of course, that results. 

 I thought you meant simply adjacent plots. 



Mr. Miller: No, I meant for seed; would the pollen mix? 



Mr. Tapley : If you had a large number mixed in the row 

 you would be liable to get a cross. 



Mr. McBroom : What about the larger onions ? What is the 

 prospect for growing the Bermudas or Spanish? 



Mr. Tapley: The prospect isn't very good for growing 

 either the Spanish or Bermuda onions in this part of the coun- 

 try. The south will always probably be the place where these are 

 grown, or Texas. 



Mr. McBroom: What variety gives best results in this 

 state ? 



Mr. Tapley : In this state, of course, the market requires — or 

 almost demands — a red variety, so either the Southport Red 

 Globe or the Minnesota Red Globe or the standard red varieties 

 generally give best results. The yield, of course, is largely not 

 due to variety but to soil and cultural conditions, the yield of the 

 individual variety. 



