1466 



ENCYCT.OPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



Fig. 



Method of Curing Onions in Sacks Standing in Field. 



After gathering into crates the crates 

 are either stacl^ed in the field, hauled to 

 a central stacking yard, where the stacks 

 of crates are covered with boards or can- 

 vas, or hauled to open sheds and there 

 piled one upon the other with numerous 

 air spaces until the onions are thoroughly 

 cured. 



Where the bulbs are extremely dry at 

 the time of their removal from the soil, 

 they may be allowed to lie in the wind- 

 rows for a few days only and then sorted 

 and cleaned in the field ready for packing 

 and marketing. Where onions are put 

 into sacks and afterwards allowed to re- 

 main in the field, the sacks should be 

 supported on poles laid upon the ground, 

 as shown in Fig. 5. 



In the IJermuda onion districts, where 

 very little attention is given to the cur- 

 ing of the crop, it is the practice to pack 

 and load into the cars as soon as possible 

 after pulling and topping. When the 

 shipping is at its height, it is not uncom- 

 mon for onions that are pulled from the 

 soil in the morning to be in the cars and 

 on their way to market by evening; how- 



ever, a portion of the crop is given a 

 more thorough curing process, and the en- 

 tire crop would be benefited by at least 

 two days of curing before shipment. 



Storage 



In order that onions should keep well 

 when stored they must be well ripened 

 and thoroughly cured. Those that are 

 immature, soft, or "thick necks" should 

 never be placed in storage but sold as 

 soon as gathered for whatever price they 

 will bring. Good storage onions will 

 rattle almost like blocks of wood when 

 poured from one crate to another. In 

 order that the bulbs may remain bright 

 and of attractive appearance they should 

 not be allowed to lie exposed to the 

 weather, but should be hauled and stored 

 in open sheds just as soon as they may 

 safely be placed in one-bushel crates. 



After the bulbs have remained In dry- 

 ing sheds or cribs for several weeks they 

 will be ready for screening and removal 

 to the storehouse. In handling onions 

 it is the rule to pass them over a screen 

 each time they are moved, as in this 



