ONIONS IN THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY 



17 



During the next two seasons more extensive experiments were conducted. 

 Treatments and results are given in Table 6. From these experiments it was clear 

 that a definite balance between the food supply and the population must be 

 maintained in order to produce maximum yields of sets having a high percentage 

 of a desired size. With 500 pounds of the 2-12-8 fertilizer, 40 pounds of seed per 

 acre were adequate, but 50 pounds were needed with 500 pounds of the 4-12-8. 

 With 500 pounds of the 0-12-8 fertilizer neither total yield nor yield of the desired 

 size was so high, but a high percentage fell within the desired size, especially 

 with 30 or 40 pounds of seed per acre. In general 30 pounds of seed per acre were 

 not enough for best results, and it is rather doubtful whether the 3-inch spread 

 increased the yield enough to warrant the extra trouble of planting and caring 

 for the wider row. 



Some of the sets produced were stored for about six months to determine their 

 storage quality. The storage loss was found to be least with the larger sizes. 

 This was not quite in agreement with the results from the crop of 1931, but may 

 perhaps be explained by the absence of sprouting in the crops of 1932 and 1933, 

 while there was considerable sprouting in that of 1931. The 1932 sets grown with 

 the 0-12-8 fertilizer showed a much greater loss than those grown with any of 

 the other fertilizers in every size, but those of 1933 showed no material difference 

 between the fertilizer treatments. 



Some sets of the two larger sizes from each of the fertilizer treatments were 

 planted in the field in order to observe their behavior in comparison with sets 

 of the same size from a lot which had been commercially grown. The principal 

 factors observed were dormancy as shown by readiness to grow when planted, 

 tendency to develop seed stalks, tendency to split making multiple bulbs, and 

 yield and quality of bulbs. 



Table 6. Production of onion sets — 2-year average. 



