140 ELEMENTS OF FARM PRACTICE 



The soil is kept well cultivated and free from weeds. When 

 the plants are about two inches high, they are thinned to 

 leave about one plant about every two inches. When the 

 tops weaken just above the onion and die down, the onions 

 are pulled, dried, topped and stored. Quite small onions 

 are sometimes pulled and dried and kept over winter, then 

 set out in the spring. They grow quickly and furnish green 

 onions early. They are called sets. 



Figure 62. — A field of onions. 



Radishes are grown from seed. They require rich, 

 moist soil, and unless grown rapidly are very inferior in 

 quality. The seed is sown early in the spring for an early 

 crop. Several plantings are usually made at intervals of 

 two or three weeks for later use. Radishes should be large 

 enough to use in four to six weeks after the seed is planted. 



Peas are sown early in spring; early varieties for early 

 use, later varieties for later use. They are sown in drills 

 from two and a half to four feet apart, depending upon the 

 variety. It is desirable in small gardens to furnish something 

 on which the vines may climb, as they are not strong enough 

 to stand erect alone. Dwarf varieties need no support. 



Lettuce, carrots and Swiss chard are grown in about 



