166 



THE ONION GROUP 



is sufficiently dry after each rain and at other times if necessary. 

 On the average they should be cultivated at least once in ten 

 days for a period of about three months. Early in the season the 

 double-wheel hoe is usually employed. This cultivates both sides 

 of one row at a time. The blades should be set to cut as close as 

 possible to the row, and thus kill all incipient weeds except those 

 directly between the plants in the row. Later, a single-wheel hoe, 

 that goes between the rows, may be more advantageously em- 

 ployed. One with a large wheel (Fig. 103) is preferable to the small- 

 wheeled type for late tillage, since there is less danger of injuring 

 the plants with the axle and framework. Under average conditions 



a man should be able to culti- 

 vate an acre of onions a day. 

 Weeding. — Although every 

 precaution may have been 

 taken to keep weed seeds out 

 of the onion land, and to kill 

 young weeds by tillage before 

 they are fairly started, some 

 hand weeding will be necessary 

 to eliminate the weeds that are 

 directly in the rows. These 

 should be pulled before they 

 become large, so that they 

 will not rob the onions of 

 moisture, plant food and sun- 

 Ught. Also, if the weeds are 

 numerous and are allowed to 

 become large, their ultimate removal is likely to seriously disturb 

 the roots of the onions, and cause them to ripen prematurely with- 

 out developing to normal size. On the whole, the weeding of 

 onions is exceedingly important and must be attended to promptly, 

 or disastrous results are likely to follow. Usually the onions will 

 need weeding about three times, but if more frequent weeding is 

 needed to keep the plantation clean, it should by all means be given. 

 Thinning. — If the onions are to be thinned, this may be done 

 at the time of the first or second weeding. It should preferably 

 be done before the onions are as large as lead pencils; for if the 

 plants are very thick, they soon begin to interfere with one another, 

 and the surplus plants have the same effect as weeds upon those 

 that are to remain. The thinning should be done when the soil 



Fig. 103. — Single-wheel hoe, with twenty-eight- 

 inch wheel, for late tillage between the rows. 



