Food for Nitrate should be applied as follows: One hundred 



. ^^ Fertilizing pounds scattered broadcast over the Held 



38 within a week after the seed is sown and 



before the plants break through the ground, and two more 

 applications broadcast consisting of 100 pounds each at 

 intervals of two or three weeks, depending somewhat upon 

 the appearance of the plants as to growth and color. 



Generally speaking the Nitrate should all 

 ^^ ^ be applied during May and June, though 

 if a drought occurs in July, and the onions 

 show signs of turning yellow at the tips, an extra dressing 

 of 50 pounds per acre may be applied to advantage. In a 

 wet season avoid putting it on late, as it might aggravate 

 the tendency to produce a considerable number of scullions. 

 It should only be applied when the plants are dry. 



The onion is an alkali-loving plant, and. 

 Use 01 v^oin- i-i 1 !• 



„ . like asparagus, seems to have a peculiar 



mon Salt. r j r 1 t-l 1 r 



tondness tor salt. 1 he results of experi- 

 ments on widely different soils show that it nearly always 

 responds profitably to an application of about 200 pounds 

 of salt per acre. This guides us to the choice of kainit for 

 this crop, as that product contains about 35 per cent, of 

 chloride of soda or common salt, which also aids in con- 

 serving the moisture in the soil. Good judgment must be 

 used, however, as the kainit might have a harmful effect in a 

 wet season on a low and naturally damp soil. 



About 400 pounds of kainit per acre should be used, as 

 a rule. It should be drilled into the entire surface of the 

 ground early in the spring to a depth of at least three inches, 

 for the kainit becomes fixed in the soil very quickly and 

 should be rather deep, so as not to attract the feeding 

 roots too near the surface. In case wood ashes or muriate 

 of potash are used the time of making the application 

 should be the same. Most vegetables will give greatly 

 increased returns from the use of chemicals ^f lime is 

 emplo\ed in conjunction with them. 



An application of 75 bushels per acre of ground quick- 

 lime has also proved preventive of onion smut. 

 Use of Thomas ^" regard to the best source from which 

 Sla? and of ^^ obtain the phosphoric acid for our onions 



T- it is plain that we must be guided by the 



character of the soil. For instance, if it is 



