28 



THE NEW ONION CULTURE 



off a part of the tops, if long and slender, and the 

 ends of the roots, as shown in Fig 24. The work of 

 setting out the plants is more conveniently done, and 

 will proceed much faster when the plants are short 

 and stiff than when they are left encumbered with an 

 excess of flimsy growth at each end. Besides, the 

 untrimmed plants are liable to bend or fall over, and 

 be in the way of the wheel-hoe and in danger of being 

 torn out; while the trimmed plants stand up straight 



Fig 25 — WRONG WAY 



Fig 26 — BRIGHT WAY 



and stiff from the very start, and allow the use of 

 the wheel-hoe immediately after they are set out. 



In short, I believe in shortening the plants at 

 both ends very thoroughly. It will do no harm, and 

 may do some good to trim the roots away to within 

 almost a half inch of the bulb or stem. With long 

 roots left on, some of the boys are bound to set the 

 plants in the manner shown in Fig 25, while the plants 

 with short roots are more likely to be properly planted 

 as shown in Fig 26. The new roots start out directly 

 from the end of the stem, and the plants with closely 

 trimmed roots will usually take hold of the ground 

 more promptly than those with all roots left on. 



