38 



ONIONS FOR PROFIT. 



closely-packed horse manure, or a mixture of horse and 

 sheep manure. It is not necessary, nor even desirable, to 

 use extremely rich soil. An ordinary rich, sandy loam or 

 sandy muck, freshly drawn and spread over the manure 

 about six inches deep, is better and safer than old hot-bed 

 compost, which is liable to be infected with fungus spores, 

 and perhaps full of animal life. A mixture of clean sand 



Fig. 7. 



w/0^Wi^f >4^J^^'4'^^4^'' i^ ' 



Overcrowded. Just Right. 



Onion Seedlings. 



and rich, clean loam is all right. A little lime may be 

 added to the hot-bed soil as a precaution against the multi- 

 plication of earthworms. 



Frequently the young seedlings, after having taken a 

 good start, suddenly lose their bright, healthy color ; the 

 ends of the tops dry up, and many of the plants die down 

 entirely — all without apparent cause. I think if soil is 

 prepared according to my directions, not made excessively 



