324 The Principles of Vegetable- Gardening 



sent to market or put into winter storage. Curing under 

 cover is more expensive than curing in the field, but it 

 usually gives brighter -colored bulbs and is to be advised 

 when one caters to a special market. The tops must be 

 removed. It is customary to pull the onions before the 

 topping is done. Three or four rows of onions are thrown 

 into one, making a small windrow. After they have 



Fig. 96. A New York onion field at harvest. 



cured for two or three days, the tops are removed with 

 strong shears, or usually with a shoe knife. Fig. 96. 

 The tops are cut about one-half inch above the bulb. 

 If they are cut shorter than this the bulb is likely to 

 rot or shrivel, and if they are cut much longer the bulb 

 has an untidy appearance. The top shonld be cut oflf 

 clean, leaving no ragged ends, and care should be taken 

 not to tear the covering of the bulb itself. Some growers 

 cut the tops from the bulbs before the crop is harvested. 



