58 THE NEW ONION CULTURE 



to the seed drill firms the soil sufficiently to insure 

 prompt germination of the seed. 



The weeds have to be watched much more closely 

 than in the new onion culture. The roller marks in- 

 dicate where the rows are, and the wheel-hoe may be 

 set agoing, carefully, at first, even before many of the 

 plants have broken ground. Then keep it agoing. 



Next comes hand weeding, which should be begun 

 as soon as weeds can be seen. Scrape the soil away 

 from the rows. Never draw it up toward them. 

 Repeat as often as needed, at the second or third weed- 

 ing also pull up the plants that are in excess of a fair 

 stand. This I find much the better way. It makes 

 the crop more uniform, and therefore more valuable 

 and more satisfactory. Ordinary varieties should in 

 no case average more than one plant to the inch, where 

 they stand most crowded, and they should have more 

 space on very rich soil than on one not sufficiently 

 enriched. The after-treatment of crop, harvesting, etc, 

 is exactly the same as described for the new onion 

 culture. 



For many years the Yellow Globe Danvers has 

 stood at the head of onion varieties to be grown for 

 market and for general purposes, in the old way. In 

 many instances I now find it outranked by the South- 

 port Yellow Globe. Both are excellent sorts, however, 

 unequaled, in fact, by any other. Prizetaker has given 

 almost as good crops, in some instances, although 

 later, when grown directly from seed, as when grown 

 by the new transplanting system. The Australian 

 Brown is liked by some growers for its earliness, 

 reliability for bottoming, and unexcelled keeping 

 quality. The claim is made for it that it can be kept 

 in good condition, sound and without sprouting, for 

 a whole year, that is, until bulbs of the succeeding 

 crop are fully matured. I have not been shiningly 



