250 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



carrots or potatoes or corn. The cultivation of these vegetables 

 sprouts and kills many weeds, which are more easily handled in 

 connection with those crops than with the onions. The cultivation 

 also renders the soil more friable, which is a prime requisite to the 

 growth of onions. 



Intercropping. Large quantities of onions are grown in straw- 

 berry regions, being irrigated incidentally in connection with the 

 berries. The strawberry plants are on ridges in rows eighteen or 

 twenty inches apart; the onion row between the strawberry rows 

 parallel thereto in the center of the ridge, the ridges being also 

 eighteen to twenty inches apart, so the water runs down between the 

 ridges. Onions are also grown between the trees in young orchard 

 on rich, deep, moist, or irrigated land. This cannot be long con- 

 tinued to advantage, as onions do not take kindly to shade, but de- 

 light in full sunshine. 



Varieties. Out of the multiude of varieties a few have proved 

 most serviceable and satisfactory for California conditions : 



Barletta : very early, small, pure white, smooth and handsome ; largely 

 grown for pickling, also for early top onions in garden culture. 



California Early Red: very early, large size, flattish, mild flavor; not a 

 good keeper. Chiefly grown by Italian market gardeners and the variety 

 probably was introduced from Italy. 



New Queen or Pearl : small, .early white, fine flavor. Chiefly grown, for 

 pickling and for top onions. 



Silver Skin or White Portugal: silvery white, medium size, excellent 

 flavor and esteemed for table use. Small bulbs largely used for pickling. 



White Italian Tripoli: very large, flat, white, rapid grower and produc- 

 tive, ships well, approved in southern California as an early variety. 



Prize-Taker or Spanish King: very large and beautiful, rich straw color, 

 flesh white, sweet and tender ; productive and keeps well. 



Australian Brown : flat, light brown, a long keeper and good shipper ; 

 very productive on rich, sandy soil with ample moisture. 



Australian Brown Globe: popular in southern California; globular, light 

 brown, heavy and ships well ; quick to maturity but a long keeper. 



White Bermuda : yellowish white, flat, very early, chiefly grown in south- 

 ern California for early shipment. 



Red Bermuda : resembles White Bermuda, except in color. 



Flat Danvers : very early, yellow, considerably grown. 



Yellow Globe Danvers : large, round, yields well and keeps well ; solid 

 and of good flavor. One of the main varieties in all parts of California. 



Red Wethersfield : large, round, slightly flattened, deep red with white 

 flesh, strongly flavored, well adapted for low, moist soils, hardy. This and 

 Danvers Globe constitute a main part of the California product. 



