ONIONS. 



129 



Spanish kinds are to be raised in this section. The selection 

 and preparation of the land for this purpose is the same as for a 

 field crop. The seed is sown in a hotbed in rows three inches 

 apart, or on a small scale a few plants may be raised in a box 

 in the window of the living room. The soil for this purpose 

 should be a somewhat sandy loam of only moderate quality, and 

 that which has no manure in it is most certain to grow healthy 

 plants. If very thick in the row, the plants must be thinned 

 out so as not to crowd one another too much, but still they may 

 be grown very thickly; as many as twelve to fifteen plants to 

 the inch of row is about right, and to secure this amount about 

 twice as many seeds will have to be sown to the inch. Too 

 much importance cannot be attached to the raising of strong 

 plants, since those that are weak and spindling are very cer- 

 tain to fail when moved. 



For a week or two previous to setting out the plants, they 

 should have plenty of fresh air, and it is a good plan to remove 

 the sashes entirely from over them except when there is dan- 

 ger of frost, so that the plants may become hardened off, as 

 otherwise they are liable to serious injury by freezing when 

 moved to the open ground, although they stand some freezing 

 when hardened off. They do not transplant so well when soft 

 and succulent as when properly hardened. The land and prep- 

 aration required is the same as for a field crop of onions. The 

 plants should be set two or three inches apart in rows twelve 

 inches apart. Before setting them out the tops should be most- 

 ly cut off, and this is especially important if they are weak and 

 spindling, as they are then very sure to turn yellow and die. If 

 the roots are excessively long, they may be shortened to facil- 

 tate transplanting. The plants are generally set in small fur- 

 rows opened with a hand cultivator or with a marker. The 

 lower part of the bulb should be about an inch deep in the 

 ground. Ine plants are easily moved, and if the soil is well 

 firmed they are very sure to live. About 150,000 plants are re- 

 quired for an acre, and it is a big job to transplant them. For 

 this purpose children can generally be employed at low wages 

 and they will do the work very well if carefully looked after. 

 The expense of transplanting; Is variously estimated at from $25 



