ONIONS. 



127 



that they cannot grow large. In sowing the seed, it is best to 

 go over the rows with the seed sower three or four times, sow- 

 ing only a part of the seed each time. This spreads the seed 

 out in wide drills and permits of more even w^ork than would 

 be possible were it attempted to sow all the seed by going over 

 the rows once. If onion sets grow too large it is often almost 

 impossiole to use them for any purpose, since they are too 

 small to sell well except for pickling, and the demand for this 

 purpose is very limited. On this account, if it is feared the sets 



Fig-ure 52.— At the left: onion plants as dug-. Ontherig-ht: onion plants trim 

 med and ready for transplanting. 



will grow too Krge, they are pulled when of the proper size, even 

 if still quite green. The further cultivation of plants for sets is 

 the same as for a field crop of oniohs. The sets should be taken 

 up in August, or as soon as ripe, with a rake or onion set puller. 

 When dry they should be stored, tops and all, about four inches 

 deep, in a loft, where they should be covered with a foot of hay 

 or straw on the approach of hard frost and left until wanted for 

 planting in the spring. In other words, they should be kept 



