i84 



are marketed at once, and cannot be stored like 

 the common onion. 



The growing of onion sets, while adapted to all 

 soils and locations in which the common onions 

 may be grown successfully, is restricted to a very 

 few localities. Most of the onion sets come from 

 certain sections of California, Kentucky and Ohio. 

 The sandy or loamy types of soils are usually pre- 

 ferred. After thorough preparation and fertilizing, 

 as already described for the main crop, the seed is 

 planted at the rate of 40 to 60 pounds per acre, in- 

 stead of from four to six. The seed is spread or 

 scattered over a strip two or three inches wide by 

 the use of a spreader attached to the planter. These 

 plants remain small on account of their extremely 

 crowded condition and begin to "bottom" by mid- 

 summer. They are usually harvested before they 

 become thoroughly mature, for the reason that by 

 so doing the tendency to produce seed stocks the 

 following year is greatly lessened. The U-shaped 

 cutter attached to the wheel hoe is commonly used 

 in harvesting. This knife is run under the plants, 

 cutting off most of the roots. The bulbs are then 

 pulled and thrown into windrows by hand. They 

 are usually allowed to remain in the open until 

 partially cured, after which they are taken to sheds, 

 where the curing is completed and the tops re- 

 moved. They are then placed on trays in layers 

 from four to six inches deep and left until ready 

 for market. The bulbs are usually handled in bags 

 or barrels, the latter being most satisfactory on 

 account of the lessened injury resulting from the 

 necessary handling. 



The value of the onion sets depends inversely 

 upon their size. If the sets are permitted to grow 



