Chapter VTI 



THE ONION 



A certain amount of zcork in the gai den is good for 

 man — and also good for onions. — Harriet. 



NIONS like level, rich, black, 

 moist land in perfect condition 

 and with sufficient humus ; how- 

 ever, any good soil will do ; do 

 not plant on rough, poor soil, 

 nor on recently-turned sod. The 

 crop is obtained in two ways — 

 from seed and from "sets"; the 

 result being either early ''bunch" 

 onions, or "picklers," or large 

 onions, or sets for future planting, or seed to sell — 

 according to how the crop is managed. 



Nitrate of soda is particularly valuable in grow- 

 ing onions, says the writer of Farmers' Bulletin 

 No. 39. One hundred pounds of nitrate per acre 

 worked in before planting, and two or three dress- 

 ings of about fifty pounds each during the season, 

 will facilitate rapid growth and increase the yield 

 if there is enough potash and phosphoric acid already 

 in the soil. When onions are raised from seed sown 

 where the crop is to mature, the drilling should be 

 done as early as possible in the spring. Drills are 

 made about half an inch deep and one foot apart 

 for wheel-hoe cultivation (about two feet and a half 

 for horse work). When plants are up, thin to two- 

 inches apart. Every other plant may then soon be 

 pulled, bunched and sold in a green state ; while the 



