THE ONION 



Onion seed may be started in the hotbed in 

 February or March and transplanted the last 

 of April. The roots and tops of the seedlings 

 should be cut back a little before transplanting. 



Early onions are often started from sets. 

 Press the set slightly in the soil, rows twelve to 

 fifteen inches apart and the sets three inches 

 apart in the row. If the young onions are to 

 be used as bunch onions place the sets close 

 together and thin out when the soil is moist. 



Onions from seed may be harvested in Sep- 

 tember while onions from sets should be har- 

 vested thirty days earlier. If the tops are still 

 standing fifteen to twenty days before harvest- 

 ing, throw them down with a rake handle, or 

 by rolling a light barrel over the bed. This 

 will hasten the ripening. Before placing the 

 onions in crates or some receptacle that will 

 allow the air to circulate freely through the 

 bulbs, rake them to the surface, allow them to 

 be exposed to the weather for two or three 

 days, then clean off the dry tops and store in a 

 cool cellar or shed. 



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