236 ONION. 



the crop cultivated at far less expense than if the weeds once 

 get a foot-hold. 



In wet seasons onions sometimes grow thick-necked. To 

 remedy this, growers are in the habit of gently bending down 

 the tops, late in July, with the hoe handle, which checks their 

 growth and makes them form better bulbs. 



In August, or early in September, the onions will be ripe, 

 which is indicated by the dying off of the tops. They may 

 now be puUed or raked out, and left spread out to dry in the 

 sun for two or three weeks, by which time they are ready for 

 market or storing for winter use. In keeping them over winter, 

 it is safest to place them where they wUl be free from frost, yet 

 it is also necessary that they be kept cool and dry, with plenty 

 of ventilation. They do not keep well in ordinary cellars; these 

 are usually too close and damp, and too warm. The writer 

 makes a practice of keeping them in a cold chamber, the floor of 

 which is covered to the depth of a foot or more with perfectly 

 dry soil. Upon this the Onions are laid six to eight inches deep, 

 and some of this dry soil thrown over them, covering them to 

 the depth of about six inches. This soil has remained in this 

 chamber for many years, and is therefore perfectly dry, and 

 although the frost penetrates the chamber, yet the dry earth 

 seems to be a sufficient protection to the onions. It has never 

 been renewed or changed, the same earth being used year after 

 year. After being placed in this chamber, and covered with 

 the dry earth, the Onions are never disturbed until they are 

 wanted in the spring, when they always come out quite fresh 

 and sound. 



Market gardeners, who find it to their advantage to supply 

 the market with early Onions of good size in the green state, grow 

 them from " sets." These sets are raised from seed the year pre- 

 vious, wintered over, and planted out as early as possible in the 

 spring. To obtain the sets, which are very small onions, a poor 

 piece of ground is selected ; this is ploughed and harrowed, and 

 thoroughly pulverized in the manner already described, but no 

 manure is applied. After getting the ground as fine and smooth 



