ONION 



1459 



seasons of heat and cold or wet and dry. 

 Naturally the onion does best under 

 rather pool conditions, with plenty of 

 moisture during its early stages, but re- 

 quires a reasonable degree of heat, to- 

 gether with dryness of both soil and at- 

 mosphere, for its proper ripening. Where 

 the onion industry has become establish- 

 ed in the extreme southern part of the 

 United States, the growing season is dur- 

 ing the late autumn and winter, the crop 

 maturing during the spring and early 

 summer. If the crop matures at a time 

 when there is considerable rainfall, it 

 will be impossible to cure the bulbs and 

 they will be lacking in keeping qualities. 

 Certain types and varieties of onions, in- 

 cluding the "top onions" and the "mul- 

 tipliers" or "potato onions," are extreme- 

 ly hardy and may remain in the open 

 ground throughout the winters of our 

 Northern states, especially if given slight 

 protection. These types are, however, not 

 adapted to growing for market, except as 

 green onions, "peelers," or "bunchers," to 

 be sold during the early springtime. In 

 certain sections of the South Atlantic 

 coast region large areas of the top and 

 multiplier onions are grown for this pur- 

 pose. There is also a marked difference 

 in the hardiness of the standard com- 

 mercial sorts, some being adapted to grow- 

 ing far northward, while others, like the 

 Bermuda, Egyptian, and Spanish types, 

 thrive only in restricted southern locali- 

 ties. 



Length of Season Required for Onions 



The period required for the production 

 of a crop of onions will depend upon the 

 season, the methods employed in growing, 

 and the variety. If grown from seed, a 

 period of from 130 to 150 days will be 

 required. If from sets, the crop may of- 

 ten be matured in 100 days. If grown in 

 the extreme northern part of the United 

 States, where the seasons are short, the 

 crop will mature more rapidly than to 

 the southward. Onion seed grown at the 

 North will is a rule produce mature 

 bulbs in less time than that produced in 

 a warm climate. In the case of the Ber- 

 muda onion, as grown in Texas, the grow- 

 ing season extends from the middle of 



September to the following iUarch or 

 April. 



Rainfall or Irrigation 



Onions require an abundance of moist- 

 ure during the early stages of their 

 growth, but should be ripened under com- 

 paratively dry conditions. In most sec- 

 tions the seed is sown at a time of the 

 year when frequent spring rains occur. 

 Their period of greatest growth is during 

 the early part of the summer, and the 

 crop is ripened late in the summer when 

 drying conditions may be expected. In 

 irrigated regions the application of water 

 is almost entirely under the control of 

 the grower. During the active period of 

 growth the water is applied about once a 

 week, the soil being thoroughly soaked 

 and the surplus water drawn off. 



The amount of rainfall or Irrigation re- 

 quired for the production of a crop of 

 onions will depend largely upon the char- 

 acter of the soil and its drainage. Many 

 of the peat or muck soils in which the 

 soil water remains near the surface will 

 require very little rainfall; in fact, the 

 best crops of onions are produced on these 

 soils during seasons of comparatively 

 light but evenly distributed rainfall. 

 Sandy and loose soils generally will re- 

 quire a greater amount of water, espe- 

 cially during the early part of the sea- 

 son. Excessive rainfall or irrigation will 

 have a tendency to produce onions hav- 

 ing a large growth of leaves and stems 

 at the expense of the bulbs. Onions of 

 this character are commonly termed 

 "thick necks" or "scullions." 



Soils Adapted to Onion Culture 



The essential requirements of a soil 

 upon which to grow onions profitably are 

 a high state of fertility, good mechanical 

 condition in order that the crop may be 

 easily worked, sufficient drainage, and 

 freedom from weeds. If a soil has the 

 proper mechanical properties — that is, if 

 it contains sufficient sand and humus to 

 be easily worked, is retentive of moisture 

 and fertilizers, and is capable of drainage 

 — all other requirements can be met. At 

 least three types of soil are being exten- 

 sively planted to onions in this country. 



