HOME PROJECTS 355 



the larger the plot grown the greater the possible profit. 



Soil requirements. Select land that is exceedingly rich 

 for the production of onions. Land that has been well 

 manured and cultivated in some crop for several preceding 

 seasons is best. In the fall heavy applications of manure 

 should be made to the land and plowed under. Three require- 

 ments of the soil essential to profitable onion culture are: 

 (1) richness in available plant-food; (2) good tilth due to 

 the presence of large quantities of humus; and (3) relative 

 freedom from weed seeds. 



Time of planting. A portion of the plot should be planted 

 with onion seed. The seed should be planted as early in the 

 spring as the ground can be worked. An exceedingly fine 

 seed-bed should be prepared. 



The seed is drilled in rows, twelve inches apart, at the rate 

 of four or five pounds per acre. 



A second portion of the plot should be planted to onion 

 sets, which should also be put in as early as possible. Use 

 good-sized sets. The rows should be twelve inches apart, and 

 the sets about three inches in the row. Plant the sets by 

 hand, pushing them well into the soil, and be careful to get 

 the right end up. After the sets are in, draw the soil lightly 

 over them with a rake. 



Cultivation. As soon as the plants are up, weeding and 

 tillage should begin. Cultivate often; it is especially impor- 

 tant that the ground should be stirred as soon as possible 

 after each rain. The onions should be cultivated at least 

 once each week or ten days for a period of three months. A 

 wheel hoe is the best implement to use. Hand weeding is 



