CROPS 87 



temperature should not drop below 32, about 35 being 

 the best temperature to maintain. 



Transplanting Onions. The Spanish type of onions 

 are profitably grown by transplanting seedlings that are 

 six to eight weeks old. The seed may be sown in a hot 

 bed or green-house. The seedlings should be kept topped 

 to about four inches, to produce strong plants. Before 

 setting in the field, the plants should be cut back to about 

 three inches, and the roots trimmed off. The plants should 

 be set not closer than four inches in the row in the field. 



Varieties. The Danvers Yellow Globe, and the South- 

 port, Red, White and Yellow Globe, are the favorite 

 varieties to grow from seed in the North. The Prizetaker 

 is the favorite for transplanting. The globe onions do not 

 transplant profitably. 



Fertilizers. Stable manures are valuable sources of 

 plant food for onions, if the manures are previously com- 

 posted and are applied only when rotted. Manures con- 

 taining coarse material should not be used. The onion is 

 a shallow rooted vegetable and requires an abundance of 

 quickly available plant food. Chemical fertilizers are, 

 therefore, very generally used in growing onions. High 

 grade, complete fertilizers, containing at least 4% of nitrogen 

 should be used. The formulas used by different growers 

 vary considerably, but in most cases the nitrogen and potash 

 elements are high. A fertilizer containing 5% nitrogen, 

 8% phosphoric acid and 12% potash, should be applied at 

 the rate of 1000 pounds to 2500 pounds per acre, depending 

 upon the condition of the soil. A top dressing of nitrate 

 of soda, at the rate of 150 pounds per acre, may be applied 

 after the plants are four to six inches high. 



