168 THE ONION GROUP 



is moist, and care taken to disturb as little as possible the roots 

 of the plants that are to make the crop. Care should be taken to 

 leave the most vigorous plants. If large, uniform bulbs are wanted, 

 the plants should stand at least three inches apart in the row after 

 thinning (Fig. 104). 



Fig. 106. — Properly and improperly ripened oniona. The onion at 

 the left has ripened from the top downward, and is unsuitable for 

 storage; the bulb at the right has ripened properly. 



Harvesting. — When onions ripen properly, the necks shrivel 

 first and the tops fall over while they are yet green (Fig. 105). 

 Gradual drying of the leaves from the tips downward, while the 

 necks remain rigid and erect, indicates abnormal ripening and 

 usually poor keeping quality. Therefore such onions should be 

 used soon after the harvest and no attempt made to store them 



