242 



BOTANY OF CROP PLANTS 



Skin of mature bulb colored. 



1. Globe onions (Southport, Yellow Globe, Southport Red Globe, Giant 

 Rocco, Golden Ball, Yellow Danvers). 



2. Flat Onions. 



(a) Bulbs deep and distinctly red (Red Wethersfield, Red Globe, Red 



Bermuda). 

 (6) Bulbs indifferent in color, reddish or yellowish (Yellow Danvers, 



Prizetaker, Strasburg). 



The "multiplier" onions have compound bulbs (Fig. 97), 

 copper-yellow in color, with rather thick skin and mild flavor. 

 When large bulbs are planted, they segregate into a number 

 of bulbs, and each produces six to twelve stalks. The potato 



Fig. 97. — Cross-section of a multiplier onion bulb. {After Bailey.) 



onion is a hardy "multiplier," sometimes called EngHsh 

 multiplier. The principal use of the "multipHer" group is 

 in the production of " bunchers " for the early market. There 

 are both white and yellow "multipHers." 



In "top," "tree," and "Egyptian" onions, clusters of bulb- 

 lets are produced at the top of the scape. Some primordia 

 develop into flowers and others into bulblets. In* some cases, 

 all the primordia may develop into bulblets, and again, al- 

 most all may develop into flowers, some of which may pro- 

 duce fertile seed. Bulblets may be produced in separate 

 clusters one above the other on the same stalk. They may 



