LEADING VEGETABLE CROPS 185 



too large they at once throw up seed stocks the 

 following season, instead of developing into a large 

 bulb. A good set should be one-half inch or less 

 in diameter. 



Pickling is another way in which a large quantity 

 of onions are used. When grown for this purpose 

 special methods of cultivation and harvesting are 

 required. From 25 to 30 pounds of seed are usually 

 planted per acre. Cultivation and harvesting are 

 practically the same as described for the growing 

 of onion sets. The bulbs for pickling purposes 

 must be remarkably uniform in size and from one- 

 half to three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Bulbs 

 less than one-half inch may be screened out and 

 sold for sets, while those larger may be sold for 

 pickling. 



The use of onion sets in the production of green 

 or bunch onions in the spring and early summer 

 has many advantages over the seed. They can be 

 placed in the soil as early as weather conditions 

 will permit of its proper preparation. They at once 

 start into rapid growth and produce a salable prod- 

 uct within a short time. Quick returns are secured 

 and the land may be prepared for other crops. 

 Farmers' Bulletin 354, United States Department of 

 Agriculture, gives the following instructions as to 

 storing onions : 



"In order that onions should keep well when stored 

 they must be well ripened and thoroughly cured. 

 Those that are immature, soft or 'thick necks' 

 should never be placed in storage, but sold as soon 

 as gathered for whatever price they will bring. 

 Good storage onions will rattle almost like blocks 

 of wood when poured from one crate to another. 

 In order that the bulbs may remain bright and of 



