GARDEN CULTURE OF ONIONS 225 



Harvesting Onions. In the maturing of the crop and the har- 

 vesting California has great advantage in a warm, dry summer and 

 early fall. Mr. Murdock, of Orange county, gives these sugges- 

 tions on harvesting: 



When the tops have turned yellow and dried or shriveled up near the 

 bulbs, and the majority have fallen over, the crop is ripe and ready to har- 

 vest. 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 growth of top, which would 

 soon spoil the whole crop. On dry land, however, the summer crops can 

 remain 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 lay with the ones previously pulled. This leaves them 

 in a continuous pile across the field for topping, which is generally done with 

 a sharp knife after the onions have laid a few days to more fully mature. 

 While topping, the bulbs are usually thrown in heaps ready for market or 

 to store away, as the grower may determine. It is best to sack or haul 

 from the field while the sun shines, as the onions should be perfectly dry in 

 either case. 



A Sacramento valley grower turns down the tops when they 

 become limp and when they are pretty dry the onions are pulled 

 by hand, cultivation having kept the ground soft. They are left in 

 fifty to sixty pound piles to cure until the tops are perfectly dry. 

 If the sun is very hot, protect the onions" in the piles by keeping* the 

 tops over them. 



Yield. Ten tons per acre is a fair yield on good soil, well 

 handled, but this amount is frequently exceeded and even 30 tons 

 has been secured, according to credible testimony. 



Garden Culture of Onions. Garden culture proceeds upon 

 about the same lines as field work, and by methods already de- 

 scribed. Due regard should be had for succession, and by proper 

 use of water in summer and of ridge or raised bed in early winter, 

 it is practicable to. have crisp, young onions all the year, and mature 

 ones with but a very short season of storage. Onions have been 

 matured from seed sown every month of the year, but the ripen- 

 ing was not reached every month because progress is slower at one 

 time than at another. 



In the garden onions should have most generous treatment for 

 delicate flavor and crispness depends upon quick growth. The use 

 of fertilizers in preparation of the soil, and of liquid manure dur- 

 ing growth, are strong helps toward this. The onion accepts grate- 

 fully the richest manures. 



The first top-onions in the fall can be grown by using bottom 

 sets planted closely in the row just as soon as the ground is well 

 moistened by early rains. The succession can be had by sowing 

 seed at intervals, beginning at the same time the sets are put in and 

 continued when the ground is in good condition until spring. 



The following method of growing sets for garden use is ap- 

 proved by the experience of Mr. F. Austin, of San Diego county, 



