Vegetables with Edible Bulbs 143 



rows, so that cultivation can be carried on before the onions 

 are up. If a beating rain occiu-s before the onions are 

 showing or as they are just appearing, it is liable to smother 

 the young and tender seedlings ; but by cultivating after 

 a heavy rain, the water draws off rapidly and does less 

 damage. Of course, this cannot be practiced on strong 

 clay soil. 



It is only in an exceptional year that onions can be 

 grown with profit in this way on weedy land. All weeds 

 in the middle should be kept down by the use of a hoe or a 

 wheel hoe. The weeding, or removing of weeds from the 

 row, is at best a slow and expensive task; often the 

 workmen have to get down on their knees and elbows. 

 Only competent laborers should be employed; incompe- 

 tent ones are likely to disturb the seedlings, or simply pxill 

 the tops off the weeds ; either of which might go without 

 detection for a week. 



Curing the onion crop. 



When the larger part of the tops fall, it is a sign of their 

 being ripe. The crop should be pulled and allowed to dry, 

 which will take about a week of dry weather. If a rain 

 occurs, it will be necessary to turn the bulbs, which can be 

 done by using a garden rake with dull teeth ; but rain is 

 apt to bleach the crop and so damage the sale. This is 

 best prevented by taking the onions to a curing shed; 

 which simply needs a roof to keep the rain off, and possibly 

 some movable sides for rainbreaks, to prevent a driving 

 rain from beating in. 



The tops should not be removed until they are dry, when 

 they break easily and can be stripped off without difficulty. 



