BULB CROPS 



The Onion 



The Onion is by far the most important of the Bulb 

 Crops. Immense quantities are raised commercially for 

 home and export markets and considerable quantities 

 are also raised by individuals for home use. During 

 recent years the production of early Onions for northern 

 use has become a leading phase of the trucking industry 

 in many southern states. 



Successful Onion growing requires more care in culture 

 than in the case of most crops. Rich level land free 

 from weed seeds and in the very best condition as to 

 fineness and freedom from stones is necessary for the 

 crop. Early in spring the small black seeds are planted 

 thickly in shallow drills and covered with about one-half 

 inch of soil. The slender seedlings soon come up. When 

 they reach a height of three inches they are thinned to 

 an inch and a half or two inches apart. Then later, 

 when the young bulbs are large enough to eat, they are 

 thinned again if mattire Cnions are wanted. The plants 

 pulled up can be used and the distance between those 

 left will vary from three to six inches, according to the 

 size of the variety and the conditions of culture. 



Frequent and shallow tillage is needed to keep the soil 

 surface free from weeds or a crust, and hand weeding of 

 the rows must be given whenever weeds appear among 

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