THE CANADIAN HORTICFLTTJEIST. 



211 



stood that thLs statement implies that 

 any new ground is preferable. I insist 

 that the land shall be as rich as it is 

 possible to make it previous to taking 

 it for onions. The reason why many 

 think that old onion ground gives bet- 

 ter results than can be expected with 

 new land the fii-st year, Ls because the 

 continued cultivation and the high 

 manuring whicli onions need have im- 

 proved the land up to the necessary 

 standard. But if one can start with 

 this standard already established it is 

 just as well. To insure this point, I 

 take tobacco ground that has been 

 manured with stable manure for a num- 

 ber of yeax-s, not less than ten cords to 

 the acre each year. In the fall previ- 

 ous to growing an onion crop, I plow 

 under a coat of tobacco stems (not 

 stalks) at the rate of l^i tons per acre, 

 costing about 830. I prefer these to 

 stable manure as an immediate fertil- 

 izer, for they furnish a high rate of 

 potash, which onions need, and besides 

 iiring in no weeds. The stems also 

 have a tendency to keep oft' the maggot 

 and other pests. The latter result is 

 also assisted by plowing in the fall. 

 The plowing should be done as eaidy as 

 the fii-st of October, to insure the 

 thorough rotting of the stems, and 

 should be as light as pos.sible, for deep 

 l)lowing is at any time detrimental to 

 an oidon crop. 



In tlie spring, plow to the dcjith of 

 five inches as soon as the lan<l is in good 

 condition to work. We usually plant 

 beets and spinach firs', as it is neces- 

 sary that they shoukl be as early as 

 possil)ie. Next peas and oth(n- of the 

 earliest crops, and then onions. We 

 plant the seed of the whole union first, 

 as this is tlie }»est for the early fall 

 market. 



As a topdressing any of the better 

 gi-ades of superpliospliates will do, 600 

 pounds of this is suHicient t\)i- an acre, 

 dragged or raked in. The ground should 



be made as fine as possible before sow- 

 ing. Flat land is the best, and in order 

 to prevent water — after heavy rains — 

 from standing on the onions, I plow in 

 ridges of one rod wide, leaving a shal- 

 low furrow and raking into it from 

 both sides. This leaves the ridges 

 slightly rounded and sloping a little 

 each way toward the furrow, thus shed- 

 ding the water, although the depression 

 is but slight. These furrows necessi- 

 tate leaving out one row of onions for 

 each furrow, but it pays if heavy rains 

 or sudden showers take place, as at cer- 

 tain stages of growth, onions are dam- 

 aged if water stands upon them, if 

 only for a .short time. 



The I'ows should be 14 inches apart, 

 and six pounds of seed per acre is, I 

 think, the Ijest rule. Many plant only 

 five })Ounds ; should all come and grow 

 to maturity this is quite sufficient, but 

 as there are some drawbacks, that re- 

 sult is not always sure. I .spat the 

 rows after the planter with a hoe, as 

 this packs the soil around the seed, pre- 

 vents drying up, and gives an opportu- 

 nitv to cover any little place skipped 

 by the follower. I think this pays, as 

 the seed comes sooner and evener. 



The use of wood ashes is to be recom- 

 mended, but I think they are best 

 ajjplied at the second weeding. I have 

 known a crop ruined by tlieii' too pro- 

 fu.se ai)plication, but if rightly used they 

 are one of the best fei-tilizers for onions. 

 It is never advisable to mix tliein with 

 other fertilizers, esjiecially those wliose 

 principal element is a)nmonia, oi- to 

 apply them at tlie same time. 



With regard to varieties, I have had 

 the best success with the Southport 

 stock, the White and Red Globe. The 

 former is by far the best wldte variety ; 

 though not as early as the Tripoli, it is 

 a better cropper aurl keeper. The Tri- 

 poli will not keep later than October, 

 under ordinary management. The 

 Wethersfield Large Red is a standard 



