Cultural Directions. 223 



An average onion crop is not likely to ever yield big returns, 

 but a large one (the result of plenty of manure and high culture 

 generally) with a fair market price, always pays the grower 

 reasonably well. The premium in this, as in all other under- 

 takings, is invariably awarded to skillful management. 



SOIL. A good crop can be produced on soil of almost any 

 composition (sand, sandy loam, clay loam, clay, muck), provided 

 it contains a fair amount of decaying organic matter; but it 

 should be free from weed seeds. Use the richest soil you have ; 

 thin soil if no other can be had ; and sandy loam in preference to 

 others. Muck lands sometimes produce enormous crops, but the 

 bulbs are not as firm as those grown upland. Land in fine tilth, 

 perhaps having been cropped with carrots, beets, cabbages, or 

 other vegetable crops, is usually given the preference, and justly 

 so ; but a young, rich, clean clover sod, thoroughly worked, is 

 seldom less profitable, and often more so, than old ground. 



Manure and prepare the land as thoroughly as described for 

 the production of bunch onions, being particularly careful to 

 avoid manure which contains live weed seeds, for the greatest 

 expense connected with onion growing is the destruction of weeds. 



SOWING SEED. The torrid heat and prolonged drought of 

 August should find the crop ready for harvesting. Consequently 

 it is absolutely necessary for best success to sow as early in spring 

 as the ground can be got in working order, perhaps by the help 

 of fall plowing and laying off in beds. In the middle and 

 southern states fall sowing may be practicable, and should at 

 least be tested in every locality there. Here we usually sow in 

 April, seldom in March. 



When the Meeker disk-harrow (or the steel-rake) has left the 

 ground perfectly smooth .and fine, good, plump, water-cleaned 

 seed, that stands at least 75 per cent, germination test, is sown 

 with the garden drill in rows 1 2 inches apart, at the rate of four 

 or five pounds per acre. Most growers sow further apart, 16, 18, 

 or even 20 inches ; but I consider this a useless waste of space 

 and opportunity, since the yield per row will be the same, 

 whether the rows are 12 or 20 inches apart, and the narrower 

 planting, with no greater outlay for manure and tillage (weeding 

 excepted), increases the crop in exact proportion to the increased 

 number of rows. The style of wheel-hoe to be used perhaps 

 influences the question of width of row somewhat. A Ruhlman, 

 going between the rows, works to best advantage when the rows 

 are 14 or 16 inches apart; while the Planet Jr. (and any other 

 row-straddler) can be profitably run among rows that are only 

 12 inches apart. The roller in the rear of the distributing 

 tube and hopper, in our modern seed drills, firms the soil 

 sufficiently to insure prompt germination of seed under common 

 circumstances. 



