SIDE ISSUES. 87 



left to us is between sandy loam, sandy muck, and sand, all 

 of which must be free from rubbish, gravel, large stones, 

 and lumps. In other words, any soil that when fairly dry 

 and unfrozen will at any season readily pass through an 

 ordinary coal-ash sifter without leaving a residue, is suit- 

 able for growing pickling onions. 



The soil should be well enriched in somewhat the same 

 fashion as minutely described for growing ordinary onions, 

 although there is no need of being quite so liberal in 

 manure applications. If the land is already quite rich 

 and well filled with organic matter, we might safely dis- 

 pense with organic manures, and put our reliance solely on 

 applications of commercial fertilizers, ashes, dried blood, 

 etc. Land that is not rich nor well supplied with organic 

 matter (humus) should have a good coat of compost. 

 Absence of weed seeds, both in the soil and compost, is 

 also an important point. 



In regard to the preparation of the soil I have nothing 

 to add to the instructions already given in chapter IV. For 

 sowing the seed, at the rate of about thirty pounds per acre, 

 use the seed drill. Crowd the rows pretty closely together. 

 There is no need of having them wider than ten inches 

 apart. But for the greater ease of cultivation secured by a 

 greater distance, I would put only six inches between the 

 rows. An ounce of fresh seed is enough to plant one hun- 

 dred feet of row or ^ little over. I usually set the drill to 

 sow about one-half this quantity, and then go twice in 

 each row. I do this for the purpose of spreading the seeds 

 in a wide row, rather than crowding them together in a 

 single narrow line ; yet I confess that I am not sure whether 

 this is of any material benefit or not. Although the Bar- 

 letta crop is made in three months' time or less, it is always 

 advisable to put the seed into the ground at the North as 

 soon in spring as soil and weather will permit. 



