298 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



on the surface of the ground and are then stored in a cool, 

 dry place until planted. Recently considerable quantities 

 of sets are fall grown in southern California for shipment 

 to Texas to be there grown to maturity by early spring 

 planting. 



Irrigation of Onions. Though our onion crops are 

 largely grown without irrigation, it is often desirable to 

 use water to carry the summer growth to satisfactory size 

 on coarse soils prone to dry out. Water can be applied 

 by any of the methods described in the chapter on irriga- 

 tion. Enough water should be used to secure thrifty, but 

 not excessive, growth, and stirring of the ground after 

 irrigation should only be delayed long enough to bring 

 the soil into proper working condition. 



Sometimes transplanting is done in connection with ir- 

 rigation. The plants are properly trimmed and placed in 

 the trenches alongside the irrigating furrows, on a slant 

 to keep the tops from the wet ground (made so by apply- 

 ing the water). They will readily take root, when they 

 may be straightened up by the hoe. Sometimes the water 

 may be passed through the trenches, when the plants may 

 be put in place by hand. 



Harvesting Onions. In the maturing of the crop and 

 the harvesting California has great advantage in a warm, 

 dry summer and early fall. Mr. Murdock, of Orange 

 county, gives these suggestions on harvesting : 



"When the tops have turned yellow and dried or shriv- 

 eled up near the bulbs, and the majority have fallen over, 

 the crop is ripe and ready to harvest. If on moist land 

 they should be harvested at once, for if left long in the 

 ground the moisture from below and heavy fogs of the 

 coast region will soon cause them to start new roots, also 

 a new growtk of top, which would soon spoil the whole 

 crop. On dry land, however, the summer crops can re- 

 main quite a while without injury. 



"Harvesting is done by pulling two or more rows; lay 

 the onions next to the standing rows, and when across 

 the plot, turn round and pull a like number of rows and 



