102 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



Of all the crops that we grow there is none that re- 

 quires more attention in the manipulation of the land 

 previous to planting than this one does. A strong 

 reason why this vegetable is not more largely raised in 

 the South for market is, that so many people do not go 

 into vegetable growing with the view of sticking to it. 

 In the onion-growing districts, land is said to improve 

 with each crop that is removed from it. Land that 

 has been cropped for twenty years is raising better 

 crops now than the neighboring land that is just being 

 cleared for that purpose. 



SOIL. 



A sandy loam, with a clay subsoil, will give excel- 

 lent returns, provided there is an abundance of humus 

 or other nitrogenous matter present. Most of our 

 land is subject to too great a variation in the moisture 

 it contains. The roots of the onions do not enter the 

 soil deeply, so they are easily affected by changes in 

 the upper stratum. 



PREPARING THE LAND. 



In selecting a plot of land, be sure to take one that 

 does not become soggy in wet weather nor dry during 

 a drought. If the right kind of land is not at hand, 

 some should be bought that is all right not rented, 

 unless one can have the option of buying it at a fair 

 price. One should not go into onion raising as a tempo- 

 rary employment, unless he be an onion grower from 

 some other section and these need no advice. Where 

 it is possible to have an artesian well or other constant 

 supply of water, it will be found profitable to irrigate. 

 The land should be well drained. Put the under- 



