ONIONS IN THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY 5 



effects of "blast". One or both of these factors caused poor yields of seed onions 

 in the period 1925-1928. Only in 1929 was a good crop of "seed" onions obtained; 

 and it was largely on account of the difficulty in securing a good crop from seed 

 that the use of sets was adopted in 1930. Although insects and disease badly 

 reduced the yield of onions, these factors affected the entire field more or less 

 uniformly in any one year, and, therefore, it was thought a fair procedure to draw 

 conclusions from relative yields from the different treatments. A statistical study 

 of the figures on yield showed considerably more variation in the results from 

 "seed" onions than from "set" onions, and consideration was given individual cases 

 in the interpretation of results, as appears later. The Danvers Yellow Globe type 

 was used for "seed" onions, and "Japanese" commercial sets for the "set" type 1 . 





Figure 2. On left "seed" onions, on right "set" onions, photographed June 11, 1925. Note 

 difference in stage of development: "seed" onions smaller than a lead pencil; "set" onions with 

 well-developed tops. 



These experiments were expected to yield information on the following points 

 of particular importance in onion culture in the Connecticut Valley: 



1. The effect of lime. 



2. The most desirable ratio of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash in mixed 

 fertilizers. 



3. Organic versus inorganic carriers of nitrogen. 



4. Deferred application of a portion of the nitrogen fertilizer. 



5. Medium-analysis versus high-analysis fertilizers. 



6. Muriate of potash versus sulfate of potash. 



Results of experiments covering these points are presented below. 



The terminology used in connection with Connecticut Valley onions may be confusing because 

 of more or less ambiguity in the use of the word "set". In this bulletin "seed onions" are those 

 grown from seed sown in the spring of the year in which the mature bulbs are harvested; "set 

 onions" are those grown from small sets produced in the preceding season. 



