74 THE NEW ONION CULTURE 



more valuable on account of their larger content of 

 potash five to ten per cent. From six to eight tons 

 of unleached or ten to fourteen of leached ashes is a 

 liberal supply. Ashes should be drilled or harrowed 

 in after plowing. If ashes are not available, or if the 

 expense of transportation is excessive, the grower will 

 find potash salts, such as kainit and muriate of potash, 

 valuable fertilizers. They are applied in the fall, 

 winter or early spring. The soil will retain the potash 

 until the plants require it, so that the loss by drainage 

 is exceedingly small. Kainit contains thirteen to 

 fourteen per cent of potash, and the muriate about 

 fifty per cent. About 200 to 300 pounds per acre of 

 the muriate, or 800 to 1000 pounds of kainit, is a suf- 

 ficient application. They should be sown broadcast 

 after plowing, and harrowed in or distributed by means 

 of a fertilizer drill. A few hundred pounds of bone 

 meal or other phosphates will be beneficial, if phos- 

 phoric acid is needed. 



"The manures applied are never completely taken 

 up by the growing crop. This makes it necessary to 

 supply more than is actually needed. In the case of 

 the potash and phosphoric acid, for which the soil has 

 a strong retentive power, the excess will remain to 

 benefit succeeding crops." 



In a general way I may add that the selection 

 and application of plant foods, for the onion crop as 

 well as for all others, is largely a matter for the exer- 

 cise of uncommonly good common sense and good 

 judgment. 



