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VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



three-fourths of an inch in diameter are planted out in the 

 spring, they do not go to seed as do larger onions, but form a 

 new bulb, and form it much earlier than they are formed when 

 grown from seed. Taking advantage of this fact, it has become 

 a common practice to raise these small onions (sets) and plant 

 them out for early summer use. It does not matter how small 

 the set is, and one the size of a pea is as good as one much 

 larger. The size generally preferred is about one-half an inch 

 in diameter. 



Planting Onion Sets. — The method of planting sets is to 

 have the land in the same condition as recommended for onion 

 seed and plant the sets as soon as the soil can be worked in the 

 spring. In doing this mark off the land in drills twelve inches 

 apart and push each set down firmly three inches deep into the 

 mellow soil, leaving them three inches apart. This is done by 

 hand, and each set is handled separately, so as to have them 

 right side up. The drill is then closed in with the feet or rake, 

 so that each set is entirely covered up. If the ground is dry, 

 it is sometimes rolled to make it still more compact around the 

 bulbs, but it is generally quite moist when the sets are planted 

 in early spring. As soon as the rows can be seen, the wheel hoe 

 is used, and the plants kept free from weeds and the soil well 

 stirred. By this method we will have onions of good table size 

 by the first of July, and some may be marketed in bunches in a 

 green state in June. Onion sets seldom, if ever, fail to produce 

 good crops and are well adapted for use in the home garden and 

 by those who will not take the pains necessary to grow onions 

 from seed. No matter how poor the soil or the cultivation 

 where the sets are planted, they always increase in size and 

 ripen early. There is no danger of their being injured by freez- 

 ing after being planted. From six to ten bushels of sets are re- 

 quired per acre, depending on their size. 



The raising of onion sets is carried on to a large extent in 

 some localities, and it is a crop that requires much skill in 

 handling. Sandy soil of rather inferior quality but free from 

 weeds and in fine tilth is best for this purpose. To keep the 

 sets from growing too large, it is customary to plant from 

 thirty to fifty pounds of seed per acre, and not plant it until the 

 latter part of May. This treatment crowds the seedlings so 



