fertilizers, it should have a liberal supply of that element in Food for 

 the best possible form, viz.: Nitrate of 



Soda. We know that if a young pig or Character of .. 7 

 calf does not have an abundance of the 

 right kind of food when it is young it be- Required by 

 comes stunted in growth and never recovers e Union 



from it, no matter how judiciously it is afterwards fed. 

 The intelligent cultivator has learned that the same rule holds 

 good in the feeding of plants; hence the great importance 

 of an immediately available supply very early in the season 

 just as the plant is starting growth, and at which time it can 

 only be obtained from an application of Nitrate of Soda, since 

 the Nitrogen in other ammoniates does not become available 

 until after the soil itself has warmed up to summer tempera- 

 ture. 



The presence of Nitrate at the outset enables the plant 

 to start off with a good healthy root growth, whereby it is 

 better able to take up later the other and more complex food 

 elements. 



If it cost $45.00 per acre for rent, ploughing, harrow- 

 ing, seeding, weeding and cultivating to produce a crop of 

 onions ready to harvest, then 



The crop of 225 bushels per acre costs 20 cts. per bushel. 

 The crop of 450 bushels per acre costs 10 cts. per bushel. 

 The crop of 900 bushels per acre costs 5 cts. per bushel. 



The latter yield is not at all unusual when the crop is 

 properly fed with Nitrate of Soda and supplementary chem- 

 ical fertilizers. 



In the first place, the onion, contrary to the general be- 

 lief, does not require any special kind of soil, such as muck, 

 black sand, etc., but will do well on any good corn or potato 

 soil, provided it is not too sour or so stony as to interfere with 

 the early and frequent cultivation of the crop. 



Even though a field is somewhat stony, it will pay to 

 rake the stones into the dead furrows which should be about 

 twenty feet apart, as the stones would make it impossible to 

 do good work with the weeder and wheel hoe 

 In selecting your field for onions it is, of 

 course, advisable to choose one that is Necessity of 



likely to be affected as little as possible in Moisture in 



the event of a severe drought, and it is for * 



