42 



FERRY & GO'S DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 



ONION 



The Onion is one of the most extensively used of all vegetables. It not only contains considerable nutriment and has valu- 

 able medicinal properties, but is most useful in eoimteracting the bad effects of sedentary life. The disagreeable odor it im- 

 parts to the breath may be avoided in a great measure by thorough cooking, or by eating a few leaves of parsley. 



In onion culture, thorough preparation of the ground, careful sowing and the best of after culture, though essential for a 

 full yield, will avail nothing unless seed of the best quality be used. Given the same care and conditions, the product from two 

 lots of onion seed of the same variety but of different quality may be so unequal in the quantity of merchantable onions that it 

 would be more profitable to use the good seed though it cost twenty times as much as the other. Our equipment and ex- 

 perience enable us to produce onion seed that is unsurpassed. The seed we offer is the best obtainable. 



Although onions are often raised from sets and from division, by far the best and cheapest mode of production is from seed. 

 The facilitij with ivhich seed is soivn and the superior bulbs it produces, recommend it for general use. 



As early in spring as ground can be worked, so^v in rich soil, thoroughly pulverized and leveled, in rows twelve to fifteen 

 inches apart, covering one-half inch deep. When the plants are well up, cultivate and keep free from weeds. The young plants 

 may be thinned about one inch apart in the row. When grovra for bunching, tiie rows can be made as close as ten inches. 



For very early crop in northern latitudes, sow seed in cold-frame in February and transplant when large enough to handle 

 readily. The same location may be used for a succession of years if the ground is kept rich by apphcations of well rotted man- 

 ure or other suitable fertilizer and is thoroughly worked at proper intervals. Where climate permits seed may be sown early 

 in winter. If onions are to be grown for the market the following suggestions should be given careful consideration: 



HOW TO RAISE ONIONS FOR THE MARKET 



THE SOIL. We prefer a soft, dark sandy loam, not too fine. 

 This is much better if it has been cultivated with hoed crops, 

 kept clean from weeds and well manured for two years pre- 

 vious, because if a sufficient quantity of manure to raise an 

 ordinary soil to a proper degree of fertility is applied at once, 

 it is likely to make the onions soft. The same result will follow 

 if we sow on rank mucky ground or on that which is too wet 

 and it is impossible to raise either a large or profitable crop on 

 stiff clay, very light sand or gravel. 



PREPARATION. Onions respond well to very liberal ma- 

 nuring. As mueli as forty loads of stocli manure well coin- 



needed will vary with the soil, the seed used and the kind of 

 onions desired. Thin seeding gives much larger onions than 

 thick seeding. Four or five pounds per acre is the usual 

 quantity needed to grow large onions. We prefer a drill that 

 sows a very close row. 



CULTIVATION. As soon as the young plants can be seen 

 in the row^s give a shallow working either with' rake or some 

 other tool that pulverizes well the whole top soil. Many onion 

 growers consider about one inch apart as a perfect stand. Work 

 the crop again in a few days with a hoe or tool that cuts the 

 ground over, this time as closely as is possible to the row 

 without injury to the young plants; follow as quickly as 



posted or one ton of high grade commercial fertilizer per acre possible with a thorough hand weeding keeping in mind that 



niay be apphed to good advantage. The stock manure should ^ g^^^ll weed today is a large one next week. The ground 



be spread and worked into the top soil m the fall but if com- gij^^^j-^^ ^^ cultivated once a week if possible and any remaiuiiig 



mercial fertilizer _ is used it should be distributed and ^^^^g m^Wed out by hand every two weeks. For best results 



thoroughly worked into the top soil after plowing m the spring, ^^^^gg operations should be continued until the crop occupies 



A hberal use of potash is very beneficial to the crop especially ^-^e ground 



Dotak^rXces'thl "tSdSiv 'lo Si'uSnl'or SaVs'S"Seck?l GATHERING. As soon as the tops die and fall the hulbs 



with tools that leave tne suitace smootn ana compact. r^^^ ^^^.^^ ^^^^^ growers use a puller attachment to the wheel 



SOWING THE SEED. This should be done as soon as the hoe that runs under the row^ of onions and lifts the bulbs, 

 ground can be made ready and can be done best by a hand Where help can be procured readily we find it much cheaper to 

 seed drill. This should be carefully adjusted to sow the desired top the onions with a rough edged case knife and rake away 

 quantity of seed about one-half inch deep. The quantity the tops before pulling. 



It will not do to store onions in large piles or masses, particularly in warm weather, or if they are the least moist, but if per- 

 fectly dry when gathered and stored in crates, they can be kept in fine condition till spring. Tiie best way is to keep them dry, 

 giving bottom ventilation if possible, and at a uniform temperature of about 32° to 34° Fr. 



r- ._ r? 1 r> J Sometimes called Extra Early Flat Red. Although the first of the red sorts to ripen, the bulbs are 

 biXtra tarly Ked firm and keep remarkably well for so early a variety. It is a very hardy, medium sized, flat variety 



that yields well and is very uniform in shape and size. The skin is uniformly rich purplish red and moderately strong flavored. 



It comes into use about a week or ten days earlier than Large Red Wethersfield. The flesh is white with tinge of light purple. 



The variety succeeds in cool soils. It is very desirable for early market use. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 30c; 2 Oz. 50c; Va Lb. SOc; Lb. $2.75 



E ^ ., Red • 



¥ D J !»/■ J.L i!* IJ This is the standard red va- 



L.arge Ked Wetnersriela rlety and a favorite onion 

 in the east, where immense crops are grown for shipment. It is 

 very extensively grown for home garden use as well as the 

 market. The bulbs are large and are flattened yet quite thick. 

 The skin is deep purplish red. The flesh is light purplish white, 

 moderately fine grained, rather strong but of pleasant flavor. 

 The variety is very productive, one of the best keepers and very 

 popular fo'r general cultivation. This medium early or main 

 crop variety does best on rich, moderately dry soil, but on low 

 muck land it is more apt to form large necks than the Danvers. 

 There is no better sort for poor and dry soils. Pkt. 5c; Oz. 25c; 

 2 Oz. 40c; 1/4 Lb. 75c; Lb. $2.50 



Large Red Wethersfield 



