236 Gardening 



bed. In doing this, sow seed about 10 weeks before 

 planting time. Transplant once to other flats as soon as 

 seedlings are 2 inches tall, and space them so that they 

 are about i inch apart. As soon as frosts are over, 

 harden the seedlings and transplant them to the garden. 



In the South, seed is very generally planted in the 

 autumn and the crop grows during the mild winter. 

 Even in some sections of the northern states, seed may be 

 sown in the early autumn ; the young plants live over 

 winter and start growth early, yielding an early crop of 

 bunch onions, or later, dry onions. 



All onions require a rich and well-drained soil. Success 

 in growing good dry bulbs from seed depends on sow- 

 ing the seed as soon as possible in spring, on thinning 

 early so that the growing plants are not crowded, on 

 keeping the weeds from even making a start in the onion 

 plantings, and on frequent but shallow surface cultivation. 

 With this treatment, the plants make rapid growth 

 during the cool spring season and form bulbs of good size. 

 It is, however, somewhat difficult to grow good bulbs in 

 localities where the summers are cool and damp, for in 

 such places the plants tend to remain green and leafy. 



The proper maturing of onion bulbs depends on the 

 weather and upon their treatment. If the bulbs reach a 

 good size by the time hot weather arrives, the tops turn 

 yellow and begin to die, and the bulb enters a resting 

 condition. The bulb is, of course, still fleshy and 

 juicy inside, and it contains at least one living bud 

 or " heart." As long as this bud remains dormant, the 

 bulb "keeps" ; but if it resumes growth, the bulb soon 

 becomes useless as food. 



