BULB 
118 CROPS 
the fall, after having been in use with good 
tillage all the previous season, and the surface 
soil must be in super-excellent condition. The 
onion is practically a surface feeder, and as the 
seed sprouts slowly, and the baby plants are 
delicate and slender-rooted, conditions must be 
absolutely right for a good growth. In fact, 
no other vegetable crop, grown on a large scale, 
requires such fine surface soil. Hard or baked 
soil is sure to give a poor crop. The surface 
must be kept loose and in good tilth, and low, 
level land is the best place for your onion 
patch. 
When the ground has been plowed, go over 
it carefully and break up all the clods or lumps, 
and remove all stones and weeds. Do not use 
coarse, fresh stable manures, as that leaves the 
ground too coarse in texture, and moreover 
increases the probability of weeds, and weeds 
are death to onions. Only fine, old, well- 
rotted stable manure may be used, and this 
must not be plowed under, as it is the surface 
soil which must be rich. Commercial fertilizers, 
especially the sorts rich in potash, are of great 
value in growing onions, and, because of their 
potash, wood ashes make an excellent top dress- 
ing for the onion patch. Keep the soil finely 
pulverized and you will then have ideal con- 
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