Dry Onions 



147 



Soils that become dry and hard produce a poor crop of 

 onions. The best soils are those naturally loose and moist. 

 Lowland areas are usually 

 chosen for the growing of 

 commercial onions. Ee- 

 claimed marshes, from 

 which the roots and peat 

 have been removed, are ex- 

 cellent. It is also of great 

 advantage to have level 

 land, as it facilitates the 

 use of the hand tools and 

 the finger work so essen- 

 tial in the growing of a 

 good crop of onions. 



It is customary to pre- 

 pare onion land the pre- 

 ceding autumn. This not 

 only insures earliness but 

 it also allows the surface 

 to become weathered and 

 comminuted so that it is 

 in perfect condition for the 

 seeds as soon as the season 

 opens. All clods and 

 stones should be removed 

 by a garden rake, horse 

 weeder, or other fine- 

 toothed tool. The land should have been in good culti- 

 vation for some years previous, if possible, that it may not 

 contain seeds of weeds; for weeds are difficult to eradicate 



A globe onion (X 



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