1460 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OK PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



the oue common essential being proper 

 mechanical condition. 



Clay and AUinial Loams 



Soils of this cUaracter aboiuul in the 

 river valley and delta regions near the 

 coast. These soils are generally very 

 fertile, but will require the addition of 

 humus or stable manure in order to 

 lighten them. The greatest difficulty en- 

 countered in growing onions upon land of 

 this character is the tendency of the soil 

 to run together and bake after hard rains. 

 This is especially injurious after the seed 

 has been sown and before the small plants 

 have attained sufficient size to permit of 

 stirring the soil about them. Where 

 these soils contain considerable sand 

 they are ideal for onion culture. It is 

 upon this class of soil that the greater 

 part of the Bermuda, Spanish, and Egyp- 

 tian onions are grown. 



Sandy Loams 



Sandy soils, especially where underlain 

 by a well-drained clay subsoil, are often 

 well adapted to onions. Soils of this 

 character generally require heavy applica- 

 tions of fertilizers before they will pro- 

 duce a paying crop, but the quality of 

 the product is excellent. Onions grown 

 on sandy loams are generally solid, heavy, 

 and of excellent keeping quality. Where 

 sandy soils are lacking in humus this 

 may often be supplied by means of crops 

 of crimson or other clover grown upon 

 the land and plowed under when it has 

 attained its greatest growth. The use of 

 leguminous crops should be supplemented 

 by occasional applications of 1,000 to 1,- 

 200 pounds of lime to the acre. 



Muck and Peat Soils 



Throughout the north-central part of 

 the United States there are vast tracts of 

 peat or muck soils that are capable of 

 producing onions. Before planting to 

 onions, however, these soils must be clear- 

 ed, drained, and brought to a suitable 

 state of cultivation. In many cases this 

 process will require two or three years' 

 time, but sometimes the soil can be brok- 

 en during the early winter, allowed to lie 

 exposed to the action of frost for a few 

 weeks, and planted to onions the follow- 



ing spring. Some of the largest onion 

 farms are located on muck lands, and 

 there are still great tracts of this class of 

 soil waiting to be reclaimed. 



The store of plant food in muck soil 

 is usually large, but often it is not in 

 available condition, and heavy applica- 

 tions of manure and commercial fertiliz- 

 ers, such as lime and potash, are essen- 

 tial to profitable crops. 



Cultural Methods 



The onion belongs to that class of 

 crops which gives best results under very 

 intensive culture, and the greatest yields 

 are secured where a moderate acreage 

 is planted and the work conducted in a 

 most thorough manner. There is noth- 

 ing technical or difficult about the grow- 

 ing of onions, but close attention and 

 frequent cultivation are essential. Once 

 the weeds get a start, the cost of pro- 

 duction will be greatly increased, or the 

 crop may be lost altogether. 



Preparation of New Land 



As a general rule new land is not adapt- 

 ed to onion growing until it has been 

 worked one or two years with other crops. 

 Onions should follow some crop that has 

 been kept under the hoe and free from 

 weeds the previous season. Corn, beans, 

 and potatoes are suitable crops with 

 which to precede onions. Muck and sandy 

 soils may in some cases be brought to 

 a suitable condition for onions the first 

 season, but the fitting will have to be 

 very thoroughly performed. The land 

 should be jilowed in the autumn, then 

 replowed in the spring, after which num- 

 erous harrowings and doubtless some 

 hand work will be required to get the 

 .soil in suitable shape. 



If necessary to manure the land heavi- 

 ly before planting to onions, it will be 

 desirable to plant to some farm crop one 

 season, then apply the manure during the 

 autumn in order to give it time to become 

 incorporated with the soil. Owing to the 

 value of good onion land it would not be 

 advisable to devote it to general farm 

 crops for any extended period, although 

 corn is frequently planted and oats or 

 rye are sometimes used in the North. 



