A B C Of I'LORIDA TRUCKISG 113 



sown in beds you will only need from two and a half to 

 three pounds of seed to the acre, while if >'ou plant them 

 in the field five pounds are necessary to insure a stand. Alake 

 the seed beds up as directed in Chapter VII, having the 

 rows across the beds about six inches apart. Do not plant 

 the seeds very deep, and you need not sow them as thinly 

 ?s you do lettuce. Keep the plants well stirred. If the cut 

 worms attack tlicm, use a mixture of bran, syrup and paris- 

 gi een as directed in the chapter on Insecticides. 



When the plants are about six inches high they are ready 

 tci be transplanted to the field, or if the seed was sown in 

 the field thev are read\' for their first working and thinning 

 out. 



FERTILIZING AXD TR.VXSPLANTIXG. 



Prepare the land as advised in Chapter II, It should ha^•e 

 been broken up about the middle of August and all trash 

 icmoved ; then gone over every ten or fifteen da)'S with a 

 harrow or cultivator, killing the weeds and grass that had 

 started. Two weeks before the plants are ready for trans- 

 planting you should apply the fertilizer, using at least a 

 ton to the acre, that \vill analyze about as follows : Am- 

 monia, 6%; available phosphoric acid, 5%; potash, 10%. 

 broadcasting and harrr)wing in. I give my onion land 1,000 

 pounds of kainit along ^vlth the other fertil'zer, applying it 

 in the same manner. Tliis is one of the cheapest potash 

 fertilizers and the onl}- remedy for the onion maggot, which 

 is the principal enem}- of this crop in Florida. 



It might be well to give my experience with this little 

 pest. Several years ago I planted two acres in Crystal Wax 

 Bermuda onions. I do not believe any one ever had bet- 

 ter prospects for a crop than I had. When my onions were 

 about one-third grown I noticed the tops drooping, and 

 upon examining the plants, found a little white worm in 



