168 VEGETABLE GARDENING, 



apart and push each set down firmly, three inches deep into 

 the mellow soil, and three inches apart. This is done by hand 

 and each set is handled separately, so as to have them right 

 side up. The drill is then closed in with the feet or rake, so 

 that each set is entirely covered up. If the ground is dry. it is 

 sometimes rolled to make it still more compact around the 

 bulbs. As soon as the rows can be seen, the wheel hoe is 

 used, and the plants kept free from weeds and the soil well 

 stirred. By this treatment they will be of good table size by 

 the first of July, and somemaybe marketed in bunches in a green 

 state in June. Onion sets seldom, if ever, fail to produce 

 good crops and are well adapted for use in the home garden 

 and by those who will not take the pains necessary to grow 

 onions from seed. No matter how poor the soil or the culti- 

 vation, where the sets are planted, they always increase in 

 size and ripen early. There is no danger of their being in- 

 jured by freezing after being planted. From six to ten bushels 

 of sets are required per acre, depending on their size. 



The raising of onion sets is carried on to a large extent in 

 some localities, and it is a crop that requires much skill in 

 handling. Sandy soil of rather inferior quality but free from, 

 weeds and in fine tilth is best for this purpose. To keep the 

 sets from growing too large, it is customary to plant from 

 thirty to fifty pounds of seed per acre and not plant it until 

 the latter part of May. This treatment crowds the seedlings 

 so that they cannot grow large. In sowing the seed, it is best 

 to go over the rows with the seed sower three or four times, 

 sowing only a part of the seed each time. This spreads the 

 seed out in wide drills and permits of more even work than 

 would be possible were it attempted to sow all the seed by 

 going over the rows once. If onion sets grow too large it is 

 often almost impossible to use them for any purpose, since 

 they are too small to sell well except for pickling, and the de- 

 mand for this purpose is very limited. On this account, if it 

 is feared the sets will grow too large, they are pulled when of 

 proper size. The further cultivation of plants for sets is the 

 same as for a field crop of onions. The sets should be taken 

 up in August, or as soon as ripe, with a rake or onion set 

 puller. When dry they should be stored, tops and all. about 

 four inches deep, in a loft, where they should be covered with a 



