36 



THE NEW ONION CULTURE 



A most excellent tool for taking out the weeds 

 in the rows from between the plants can be easily 

 made from an old worn-out hoe, leaving the lower 

 part (between the corners) only about two or two 

 and one-half inches wide, as shown in Fig 33. With 

 this sharp-cornered tool you can strike between the 

 plants, cutting out the weeds, and loosening the soil. 

 This manipulation and the free use of the wheel-hoe 

 will usually be all the cultivation needed. But the 

 hand which wields the sharpened hoe should be a 

 careful one, and be guided by a head possessing a 



33 HOMEMADE ONION HOE 



fair degree of intelligence, otherwise the onion plants 

 may have to suffer. 



Will it be feasible to substitute a mulch of fine 

 manure or other litter for cultivation and weeding? 

 I do not think so, unless it be on sandy soil and in a 

 very dry season. The plan works well in growing 

 celery. It may be tried, cautiously, for onions. In 

 a wet season it will increase the tendency of the plants 

 to make scallions. I have, however, had reports from 

 several intelligent growers who told me that they had 

 used a mulch in the onion patch with excellent results 

 in a dry season. 



A continuous supply of moisture, furnished by 

 sufficient but not excessive rainfall, makes a large yield 



