WHAT SOIL TO SELECT 



15 



at the rate of several hundred pounds each per acre, 

 appHed broadcast just before the last harrowing. Such 

 an application seems always safe, in fact safer than 

 the use of excessive quantities of organic and nitrog- 

 enous manures, except on sandy soils. 



Stimulated by the continuous and excessive rain- 

 fall of the earlier part of the season, the onion plants 

 showed some tendency to produce thick necks, and a 

 continuation of these abnormal conditions might have 

 spoiled the patch. But the rains finally ceased, recur- 

 ring only at reasonable intervals and just sufficiently 



Fig 12 — ^ROW OF SCALLIONS 



to provide a fair supply of moisture for healthy 

 growth. The outcome was a crop of onions which as 

 an average appeared as seen in Fig 11 in comparison 

 with scallions. Fig 12, the single specimens weighing 

 from three-fourths to one and one-half pounds apiece. 

 The soil must be free from stones and coarse 

 gravel, and rubbish of any kind, and as near as pos- 

 sible, also, from weed seeds. A new clover sod that 

 will pulverize nicely will do first rate ; but if the sod 

 is old and tough, it would hardly be suitable for our 

 purpose shortly after being broken. A crop of pota- 

 toes, corn, beets, carrots, cabbages, etc, will get such a 

 sod land in admirable shape for a succeeding crop 

 of onions. 



