GROWING FROM SETS. 297 



connection with stem or bulb (the so-called "tree onion" 

 and "potato onion"), are not grown to any extent. They 

 are inferior to other varieties which are satisfactory in 

 this climate. All onion sets have the habit of proceeding 

 with their enlargement when placed in moist ground, but 

 some growers find the bottom sets from seed are more 

 likely to run to seed than top sets from the seed stem. Mr. 

 Adams, of Calistoga, is in the habit of growing his own 

 top sets in this way : 



"Plant the onions of the variety which produces top sets 

 in the place of seed, eight or ten inches apart, with rows 

 two feet apart; cultivate well and gather the sets when 

 the seed-stalks are ripe or perfectly yellow. Let the sets 

 get well dried, then store in a cool, dry place six or eight 

 inches deep on a board floor and cover with clean, dry 

 straw. Never put them in sacks, boxes or barrels, as they 

 will most surely mold. 



' ' In growing onions from these top sets, I plant them as 

 early in February as the ground is suitable, on the rich- 

 est of my land ; make the rows perfectly straight by using 

 a strong garden line ; make rows one foot apart; press the 

 sets firmly into the mellow soil nearly or quite out of 

 sight, placing them an inch or so apart. When they are 

 nicely up, a good top dressing of fine, dry, decomposed 

 Jien manure sown broadcast and well hoed in, is most ex- 

 cellent, especially just before a warm rain. A few weeks 

 later a light dressing of ground bone, or unleached ashes, 

 will forward them wonderfully, and in a short time you 

 will have onions fit for an epicure. Thin out as wanted 

 for use, or for the purpose of raising top sets for another 

 year." 



The foregoing is obviously for garden, not for field 

 practice. In fact, for field work, sets of any kind are not 

 used to any extent in California. 



Bottom sets from seed are grown by sowing the seed 

 thickly, allowing the plants to grow without thinning, and 

 to mature by the drying of the ground, when about the 

 size of marbles. These are then pulled, dried thoroughly 



