C. C. MORSE & CO.— SEEDS — SA TV FRANCISCO, CALIF. 
nor&e 's ONION SEED 
HOW TO GROW ONIONS FOR MARKET 
The most essential item in growing Onions for market is good seed — seed that will come up and seed that will produce the variety 
you want — cheap seed is very poor economy. 
For general crop the seed must be sown during the month of January or before February 1st, and, if the location is a fairly dry one 
it is best to sow about the middle of December. The seed should be sown with a seed drill in rows 14 inches apart, using 4 to 4% 
pounds of seed per acre. In very weedy land the rows may be 18 or 20 inches apart when less seed is required. 
For planting a single row of onions among strawberry plants about two pounds of seed per acre is sufficient. 
The land must be thoroughly worked before planting, and usually two good plowings, a good disking, and a harrowing are necessary. 
The crop must always be kept free from weeds, and it is usually necessary to weed out in the row by hand once or twice. Hoeing 
between the rows may be done oftener. It is not necessary to thin the plants in the row, since some thinning is naturally done during 
the hand weeding. 
The land chosen for onions should be wet land, preferably loose, sandy loam or peat, and should always be kept well drained. Heavy 
adobe or clay soil is good, but needs to be irrigated in May, June and July, and the onions are not so well colored or even in shape in 
heavy, stiff soils. Steady, even growth is necessary to good onions, and a check in the growth, whether from disease or drought, causes 
them to run to seed badly. Onions are ready to harvest usually the latter part of August, when, with a good crop, the tops are pretty 
well ripened down. If the tops are still standing and green, it is well to run a light roller or plank over them to press the tops down, 
and the onions should be pulled in about ten days after this is done, whether the tops have dried off or not. It requires not less than 
two full weeks to properly cure onions after they are pulled. In localities where fog is prevalent it is best to spread the onions out on 
the ground, not more than one bulb deep. It is usual in other climates to throw into windrows a foot or more deep and cover lightly 
with straw or dried tops. It is best not to top and sack until ready to ship to market, and if onions are to be kept for any length of 
time they should not be sacked, but should be put under cover on a floor or in a bin, with abundant circulation of air, and be kept ab- 
solutely dry- 
The value of an onion crop is naturally dependent on the market and on the 
character of the land planted. Land that is very foul should usually be 
avoided as too expensive. Also avoid land which has just had a hay or grain 
crop, and if possible use land that has been planted to vegetables or some 
hoed crop, especially peas and beans. An onion crop should not be repeated 
more than three times on the same land, and usually twice is best, since onion 
diseases (of which there are many) appear very plentifully. An average crop 
runs from 150 to 200 centals (15,000 to 20,000 lbs.) per acre, and the cost 
represented by labor, rent, sacks and transportation is estimated roughly 
at $75 per acre. 
AILSA CRAIG. An immense light yellow onion; fine grained, crisp, 
mild flavored and early. They not infrequently measure 18 inches 
around, and weigh two pounds. Ailsa Craig is the largest onion 
grown. Pkt. 10c; oz. 45c; *4 lb. $1.35; lb. $4.50. 
AUSTRALIAN BROWN. Early and very hardy variety which does 
especially well in California. Should be planted early, on low, 
wet grounds, to get large bulbs. The skin is thick and the color 
is a rich brown. Is especially noted as a long keeper, as it keeps 
well into spring, and much longer than other varieties. Pit. 5c; 
oz. 15c; y 4 lb. 45c; lb. $1.50. 
Crystal White Wax. A pure white variety of the Bermuda type; Ten- 
eriffe grown. The beautiful clear white onion seen in our markets 
in crates early in spring is this variety. Pit. 15c; oz. 50c; V4 lb. 
$1.50; lb. $5.00. 
Extra Early Barletta. Extremely early variety. Seed planted in 
February will form ripe onions the last of July. Is a white onion, 
forming small bulbs about one inch in diameter. Valuable for 
home-made pickles. Pkt. 5c; oz. 25c; *4 lb. 75c. Crop doubtful. 
Australian Brown Onion 
MORSF BROWN CA ORF A fine - lar ^ e - globe-shaped sort, of a 
DIVUVYH VjI_V^DH rich S eal-brown color. It ripens 
uniformly and nearly every plant makes a solid, hard bulb. It has all 
the long-keeping characteristics of Australian Brown, and is one of the 
very best varieties for market. Pit. 5c; oz. 20c; V4 lb. 60c; lb. $2.00. 
California Early Red. A variety much used for very early onions. If the 
seed is sown in beds in August and set in the field in November or 
December, good market onions can be had in Mav. It is not a good 
keeping variety, but is of very mild flavor and of fine quality. Pkt. 
5c; oz. 20c; Yi lb. 50c; lb. $1.75. 
Extra Early Pearl. A very early variety with pure white skin, rather 
coarse gram and mild flavor. In shape it is fiat and is unsurpassed 
for early sets or home-made pickles. Pkt. 5c; oz. 25c; lb. 75c. 
Crop doubtful. 
Extra Early Red Plat. A very early, flat varietv, with dark purplish-red 
skin. Forms a hard bulb with good keeping qualities. Pkt. 5c; oz. 
30c; 14 lb. 90c; lb. $3.00. 
Mammoth Silver King-. An early, large, white, flat onion. Is not a keeping 
sort nor a good shipping variety, but is valuable for home use and 
near-by markets. Is very mild and of fine flavor. Pkt. 5c; oz. 25c; 
Yi lb. 75c. 
OHIO YFI I flW C,\ ORF The best of the yellow Globe varieties. 
V^ril^ ILLLUW <jLAJB£, Tne skin is h ri S ht, glossy, orange- 
yellow, and the flesh is white and fine grained. The bulbs are remark- 
ably uniform in size and shape, and being firm and hard, possess fine 
keeping and shipping qualities. Pkt. 5c; oz. 25c; Yi lb. 75c; lb. $2.25. 
