THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 275 



the manure ; the fine part that remains on the bed will 

 improve the quality of the onions. Keep the weeds down 

 during the summer and thin if the bunches become too 

 thick. 



Culture. Onions should be cultivated with a hand or 

 wheel hoe after each rain. Weeds that come up in the 

 row should be pulled before they are large enough to dis- 

 turb the small roots. Onions loosened with weeds will 

 not make a strong growth. Keep the topsoil covered 

 with a fine dust mulch, but do not draw the earth over 

 the bulbs. 



Cold frame. Sow seeds in a cold frame in March. 

 Make the rows six inches apart and sow the seeds thick. 

 Some of the plants may be eaten while they are young 

 and others may be transplanted. Transplant onions after 

 they are well hardened and trim both tops and roots. 



Harvesting. After the tops are dead, pull the onions 

 and lay them in windrows, as indicated in Fig. 149, so 

 that the sun can reach the roots. After the onions are 

 dry they may be tied together by the tops and hung in a 

 dry shed, or they may have the tops cut off and be spread 

 out flat about four inches deep under cover. During the 

 winter, store them in slatted boxes in a cool place. They 

 are not injured by freezing, but they cannot endure con- 

 tinued freezing and thawing. 



Diseases. If the land is infested with smut, sow the 

 seeds in cold frames and transplant the seedlings after 

 they have made considerable growth and are well hard- 

 ened. Smut may be prevented by scattering in the drills 



