172 GARDEN GUIDE 



perennial multiplier, the Potato or Egyptian Onion. The last three 

 propagate themselves by multiplying, either at the roots or at the 

 top of the seed stalks, the cluster of bulblets being divided up and 

 set out for the following crop. They may be planted either in early 

 Spring or in late Fall. 



Onions from seed yield very heavily in rich soil, but the prepara- 

 tion of the seed-bed must be of the best as the seed is fine; it must be 

 lightly and firmly covered, eight to twelve seeds being drilled in 

 to the inch of row. In addition to rich and very thoroughly prepared 

 soil, the most important thing in growing Onion seed is to keep ahead 

 of the weeds. The plants when they first come up are very small, 

 not much bigger than blades of grass, and the whole crop may very 

 easily be lost through neglect in this regard. Go through it with 

 the wheel hoe and also by hand within a week or ten days after they 

 break ground. Continued clean culture and occasional light appli- 

 cations of nitrate of soda will keep the crop developing vigorously 

 till Midsummer. Lime in the soil and soot sprinkled along the rows 

 will tend to mitigate the damage done by the Onion maggot. The 

 most certain remedy for the maggot, however, is a poison spray or 

 bait for the flies, which can be applied only with a strong pressure 

 sprayer. When the plants get too large to go through them with the 

 wheel hoe, the slide or scuffle hoe should be used, the kind with 

 guides or runners in front of the blades, which hold it at an even 

 depth, making the work easier and lessening the danger of injury 

 to the bulbs. As soon as the tops die down the bulbs should be 

 pulled and laid in windrows, and raked ovBr every day or two until 

 thoroughly dried; then they may be taken and the tops cut off, and 

 spread out on a floor, or in an open shed, or packed in slatted Onion 

 crates, which hold about a bushel apiece, to dry off thoroughly 

 before being packed away for the Winter. 



For transplanting, to get large bulbs, the seeds should be started 

 under glass in February or early March, and transplanted in April or 

 Early May, setting the plants about 3 in. apart. Seed should be 

 sown very thinly in flats, with rows 3 or 4 in. apart. Keep them as 

 near the glass as possible, and transfer them to the cold frames as 

 soon as it is safe, so as to get hardy, stocky plants. In transplanting 

 the roots are trimmed back to within three quarters of an inch or so, 

 and half of the tops removed, when they can be handled readily, 

 and practically none will drop out if the work is properly done. 

 Sets planted early in the Spring by pushing the bulbs down into 

 ground until they are slightly covered will make a quick growth 

 and give Onions ready for use before those from "prickers" or 



