ONION 181 



spring, and not handled while frozen. Storage with- 

 out loss is rare. 



The "New" Onion Culture. This is a method intro- 

 duced into this country in 1889, but previously prac- 

 ticed in Europe. As already indicated, the Onions are 

 started under glass in February or March, and set out 

 when the ground is warm. The transplanting seems to 

 benefit the plants, and the crop is always larger and 

 more uniform in size. In the South the plants are 

 started in seed-beds in the open; in the North the 

 expense of sashes and labor is likely to be prohibitive, 

 except in garden culture. In setting out the plants 

 both tops and roots are cut back. Sow thickly, and 

 water till the plants are up; if they crowd, thin. 



Sets are grown by sowing the seed of a given 

 variety broadcast and very thickly on a plot of sandy 

 ground. The plants, after well starting, presently 

 stunt each other. When the tops die, pull, dry, and 

 store. The sets should be less than an inch in diame- 

 ter. Small Onions from the previous season's crop are 

 not successful as sets. 



Top onions are grown from their bulblets, 



Multipliers from their bulbels. Neither seed readily. 



Seed should always be the best, regardless of expense, 

 as poor Onions are not worth growing. 



Scullions or Scallions are Onions which, from poor 

 seed or improper, conditions, do not bulb but have a 

 thick neck. 



