ONION GROWING FOR MARKET. 127 



more in the market, nearly all of which do the work well. 

 In our business at the present date, we sell the Matthews 

 and the Planet, Jr., giving the preference in the order in 

 which they are named. In sowing the first row, a line 

 must be stretched so as to have that line straight, after 

 which the sower can readily regulate the other lines. 

 The favorite distance for Onion rows to be placed apart 

 is fifteen inches, though they are sometimes sown as close 

 as twelve inches, leaving out every ninth row for an al- 

 ley, thus forming them into beds of eight rows each. 

 Where there is reason to believe weeds may be trouble- 

 some, this plan of forming in beds has the advantage of 

 the alley (twenty-four inches wide) to throw the weeds in. 

 I so firmly believe in the value of firming in the seeds 

 after sowing, that I advise, in addition to the closing 

 and firming of the seeds by the drill, to use a roller be- 

 sides, particularly if the land is light, or where the soil 

 has not been sufficiently firmed down. 



CULTIVATING. 



There is no crop where the adage of " a stitch in time " 

 is so applicable as in the Onion crop; so that just as soon 

 as the lines can be well seen, which will be in twenty or 

 thirty days after sowing, apply the hand cultivator be- 

 tween the rows. There are a great many styles of hand 

 cultivators. On light soils, the best we have used is 

 known as the ''Universal.' 1 The distance at which On- 

 ions should stand is from one to two inches, and if the 

 crop is sown evenly and thinly few will require to be 

 taken out; but whether it be weeds or Onions that are to 

 be removed, one thing should never be lost sight of, that 

 when this operation is done, every inch of the surface 

 should be broken. This is best done after having been run 



