Special Needs 



III 



apart ; or from seed sown the previous fall and pro- 

 tected with rough manure during the winter. These 

 will be succeeded by the crop from "prickers" or 

 seedlings started under glass in January or Feb- 

 ruary. As onions are not transplanted before going 

 to the garden, sow directly in the soil rather than 

 in flats. It is safest to cover the bed with one-half 

 inch to one inch of coarse sand, and sow the seed 

 in this. To get stocky plants trim back tw^ice, taking 

 off the upper half of leaves each time, and trim back 

 the roots one-half to two-thirds at the time of setting 

 out, which m.ay be any time after the middle of 

 April. These in turn will be succeeded by onions 

 coming from the crop sown from seed in the open. 



The above is for onions eaten raw in the green 

 state when less than half grown. For the main crop 

 for bulbs, the home supply is best grown from prick- 

 ers as described above. Prize-taker and Gibraltar 

 are mostly used for this purpose, growing to the size 

 of the large Spanish onions sold at grocery stores. 

 For onions to be kept for late winter and spring use, 

 grow from seed, sowing outdoors as early as 

 possible. 



No vegetable needs a richer or more perfectly pre- 

 pared soil than the onion ; and especial care must be 

 taken never to let the weeds get a start. They are 

 gathered after the tops dry down and wither, when 

 they should be pulled, put in broad rows for several 



