XII. 



ODDS AND ENDS. 



ONION SEED RAISING.— WEIGHTS PER BUSHEL.— 

 HISTORY AND VARIETIES. 



To produce onion seed, first grow the onions, and select 

 perfect, well ripened bulbs for wintering over in a cool, 

 dry, airy room. Select moderately rich soil ; plow and 

 harrow it well in early spring ; then open furrows six inches 

 deep, and not less than three feet apart. In these set the 

 onions four or five inches apart, and cover with the foot, 

 plow, or a hoe. Where the winters are not excessively 

 severe, the planting may also be done in August, in the 

 same manner as here described. The onions will make a 

 strong growth before winter, and come out all right in the 

 spring without protection of any kind. 



The great hollow seed stalks are quite liable to be 

 broken over and seriously damaged by heavy winds when 

 the ripening seeds make them top-heavy. If support is 

 given to the plants by little stakes, or by wires or twine 

 stretched on both sides of each row, much loss will be 

 prevented. 



The seed ripens quite unevenly. Each pod must be cut 

 at the proper stage of ripeness, as indicated by the yel- 

 lowish color of the upper part of the stalk and the seed 

 pods. Continue cutting at intervals until all pods are 

 gathered. Spread them thinly in a dry loft, and when 

 thoroughly dry thresh them with the flail, and clean the 

 seed by running it repeatedly through a fanning-mill. 



95 



