178 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



there is danger of frost. In this way the plants may become 

 hardened off, as otherwise they are liable to serious injury 

 by freezing when moved to the open ground. They will 

 stand some freezing weather when well hardened off. 

 They do not transplant so well when soft and succulent 

 as when properly hardened. The land and preparation 

 required are the same as for a field crop of onions. The 

 plants should be set two or three inches apart in rows 



Fig. 67. Transplanting onions in the field. 



twelve inches apart. Before setting, the tops should 

 be mostly cut off, and this is especially important if they 

 are weak and spindling, as they are then very sure to turn 

 yellow and die. If the roots are excessively long, they may 

 be shortened to facilitate transplanting. 



The plants are generally set in small furrows opened 

 with a hand cultivator or with a marker. The lower part 



