ONIONS 



313 



temperature and humidity are more variable than in the Pacific 

 Coast states. Whether or not this is true, old seed is to be avoided. 

 Planting. In extensive plantations, where the seed is sown in 

 the field, it is usually distributed by a hand drill of the type shown 

 in figure 117. There are several makes of these implements upon 

 the market, such as the New Model, Planet Jr., and Iron Age. 

 In field planting, the seed is usually sown in drills from 12 to 

 1 8 inches apart, 30 or more seeds to the foot, and covered with 



FIG. 117. Seed drill used for planting small seeds 



from I to I inch of soil. In order to insure rapid work with these 

 seed drills, it is necessary that the ground be carefully prepared and 

 that the surface be free from clods and vegetable debris. Ordinarily 

 it requires from 4 to 6 pounds of seed to plant an acre when sown 

 in this manner. 



Another method of seed sowing is frequently employed by onion 

 growers. The seed is sown in hotbeds about six weeks in advance 

 of the time the plants can be safely and successfully transplanted 

 to the open. The plants gain a decided advantage by this early 



