110 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



the workmen have to get down on their knees and 

 elbows. Only competent laborers should be employed ; 

 incompetent ones are liable to disturb the seedlings, or 

 simply pull the tops off the weeds, either of which 

 might go without detection for a week. 



CURING THE CROP. 



When a majority of the tops fall it is a sign of their 

 being ripe. The crop should be pulled and allowed to 

 dry ; this will take about a week of dry weather. If a 

 rain occurs it will be necessary to turn the bulbs, which 

 can be done by using a garden rake with dull teeth, but 

 rain is apt to bleach the crop and so damage the sale. 

 This is best prevented by taking the crop to a curing 

 shed, which simply needs a roof to keep the rain off, 

 and possibly some movable sides for rain-breaks, to 

 prevent a driving rain from beating in. 



FIG. 15. 

 Figure 15 represents a Bermuda onion prepared for crating. 



The tops should not be removed until they are dry, 

 when they break easily and can be stripped off without 

 difficulty. (See Fig. 15.) It is usually better to push 

 the crop forward as early as possible. The maturing 

 may be hastened somewhat by knocking the tops over. 



As soon as the roots loosen their hold on the ground 



