222 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



region suitable to quick winter growth, a very early crop of mature 

 onions is secured, which sometimes strikes a bare market and is 

 very profitable, while the regular crop, coming in later, may be 

 worth much less. 



Seedlings for transplanting are grown in California in the open 

 air, according to the conditions for germination described in Chap- 

 ter XL Where there is likelihood of heavy rains the raised bed 

 described in Chapter VIII is a safeguard, but where the soil nat- 

 urally drains well, or where rain is light, such arrangement is not 

 necessary. Nor is it necessary that the culture should be very deep. 

 The seed is started in the fall, when the rate of evaporation is re- 

 duced. Shallow culture promotes early growth and, if the soil has 

 been previously deeply moistened, there is no need of such deep 

 work as would be desirable if the plant was to pursue its full course 

 in that place. 



Some growers use a little bottom heat by covering in fresh 

 horse manure with the plow and shallow working the surface into 

 fine tilth. This practice is not essential. It is best suited to heavy 

 soil and ample moisture; it has an element of danger on light soil 

 with scant moisture. The seed is sown at different times in dif- 

 ferent localities from September to November the early date in 

 northern California, for the rains come earlier, the weather is cooler 

 and the plants of slower growth. In the south a later start agrees 

 better with the rainfall, and more rapid growth brings the seedlings 

 to planting-size in less time. 



In the seed-bed the seed is usually thickly sown broadcast, 

 lightly covered and rolled or pressed down. The surface is pro- 

 tected from drying and from packing by heavy rain, with a light 

 mulch of fine manure, covered with boards until the shoots appear, 

 or covered with a single thickness of old sacking until the shoots 

 begin to pierce it. Any device which keeps the surface moist and 

 loose is applicable. The plants usually reach a height of six or 

 eight inches at time for transplanting. 



Transplanting. Transplanted onions are usually grown on 

 lighter soils than those from seed because the crop is to mature 

 earlier and is not so dependent upon moisture retention. Again 

 the lighter, warmer soils give the most rapid winter growth, as 

 already stated. Preparation of the land is the same as for seed 

 sowing and the transplanting is done at about the same time of the 

 year from February onward, according to local climate and soil 

 conditions. The plants are pulled, if the seed-bed is sandy, and they 

 lift easily, or lifted with a shovel and separated. The top and 

 roots are shortened about half the length of each, and the plants, 

 dropped along the rows by boys, are set, with the finger or dibble, 

 three inches apart in rows twelve inches distant, pressing the soil 

 firmly around the plant. Planting can be done by line or by indi- 

 cating it with a roller encircled by rope at proper distance or by 

 marking out shallow furrows with the hand wheel hoe, etc. The 



