234 



Gardening 



FIG. 132. When onions are about two- 

 thirds grown, the tops are sometimes 

 broken down, as shown in this picture. 

 By this practice the growth of seed tops 

 is checked, the size of the bulb is increased, 

 and hollow centers are not so likely to form 

 within the bulb. 



these bulbs may be used 

 as food until late in 

 the following spring. If 

 these one-year-old bulbs 

 are planted in spring, 

 they produce tall stalks 

 bearing flowers, and 

 later, seeds ; then the 

 mother bulb dies. Seed 

 is thus produced in the 

 second year of the plant's 

 growth, and for this 

 reason the onion is a 

 biennial. 



If, however, the seeds 

 are sown late, or the 

 young plants are much 

 crowded, or are grown 

 on poor soil, the plants 

 do not form large bulbs 

 that year. Instead, the 

 tops die in summer, 

 leaving only small bulbs 

 that are called " sets." 

 If these sets are planted 

 early in the following 

 sufficient room, the plants 



large "dry" bulbs. 



spring in rich soil with 

 grown from them will make 

 These, if stored through the winter and planted the fol- 

 lowing season, will produce seed. Sets are therefore 

 plants that are halfway to the dry onion stage of de- 



