Helena, Montana. 
VEGETABLE SEEDS— (Continued.) 87 
ONION SETS 
One lb. to 75 feet of Drill, 300 lbs. to the acre 
The Importance of TTslnir Korthern Qrown Onion Sets 
The planting of Onion Sets 
Is increasing rapidly year 
after year. The Bottom On- 
ion Sets produce onions ready 
for market six weel<3 earlier 
than can be had by sowing: 
the seed. This enables the 
grower to sell his entire crop 
earlier in the season, at which 
time the prices usually are 
higher. It also permits the 
sowing of another crop on 
the land the same year. Bot- 
tom Sets also produce good 
green onions on most any soli 
in half the time it takes to 
raise them from seeds. 
These are simply onions 
grown from seed planted late 
and thick. They are about 
as big as the end of your 
finger and when set out In 
spring they come quick and 
make nice green onions for 
bunching, or if left stand 
will bottom down and make 
big onions as from seed but 
much earlier. We can furnish them in the yellow, red or white. 
Yellow are generally the best as they are not so liable to run to 
seed. Multiplier sets are also good. 
Sizes of Onion Sets. 
It Is very important that you get onion sets of the right size. 
If Just a little to large they will lun to seed right away instead 
of making a good onion. The rule is to sell every set below 1^ 
Inches in diameter, but in that case there is sure to be some too 
large that will go to seed. Therefore we use none above % inch. 
White Bottom — These are small, solid and of a beautiful silvery 
white; a favorite sort in private and market gardens. 
Red Bottom — Bright deep red in color, even and dry. A popu- 
lar variety. 
Yellow Bottom — 
Yellow Multiplier — Often preferred on account of their earllness. 
Tiate in June they are fully ripe, and can be gathered. Very 
productive, Ti to 15 bulbs growing from one set out. 
Eeryptian Winter — or Perennial — These sets should be planted in 
the fall, being hardy everywhere. They never form large bulbs 
but produce small green onions weeks before any other sort. 
They are unsurpassed in sweetness and tenderness. The sets 
are produced on the top of the stalks. Can be supplied only in 
September and October. 
FO& FBICES SEB RED INSERT — PAGE 80 
If nnat>le to find what yon want refer to the index. 
ONION SEED 
Ger. — Zwiebel. 
Scand. — Boedloec. 
(One ounce for 200 feet of drill; 4 or 5 pounds in drills per acre.) 
The best onions are grown on low, sandy, or mucky lands, with 
natural moisture and plenty of it. 
Sow the seed in March in hotbeds or in shallow boxes in the 
house, transplanting to the open ground in May or as soon as 
the ground is warm and in good condition. Follow this method 
for an early and successful crop. 
The crop must be kept free from weeds, and it is usually nec- 
essary 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. 
Steady, even growth is necessary to good onions and a check 
in growth, whether from disease or drought causes them to run 
to seed badly. 
Different markets and localities prefer different onions. Globe 
onions are generally most popular and yield better than the other 
sorts. Flat onions are earliest and the large sized kinds have 
the best flavor. All seed is tested as to vitality. 
WHITE VARIETIES. 
White Plckliny — For early bunching, pick- 
ling, etc. Small, hard, round: keeps well; 
does not turn green when exposed to sun. 
White Portugal or Silver Skin — The best 
known and most largely used white onion. 
Is flat on the bottom and thick toward 
the top, very hard and firm and an excel- 
lent keeper. 
Onion — Silver Kins'. 
Grown From Eg'Tptiau Winter Bats. 
Early White Barletta or 
White Queen — An exceed- 
ingly early variety grow- 
ing about 1% Inches in 
diameter, and % of an 
inch thick. A most ex- 
cellent sort for bunching 
and pickling. 
Mammotli Silver Xingr — An 
early large white, flat 
variety. Is not a keep- 
ing sort nor a good ship- 
ping variety, but is val- 
uable for home use and 
nearby markets. Very 
mild and fine flavor. 
White Welsh — Distinctly a 
bunch onion, and ready 
for pulling for this pur- 
pose very early. Very 
mild and delicate flavor. 
Onion — White Plcklingf. 
Southport White Globe — A very desirable variety which yields 
an abundant crop of fine large onions. Pure white color, mild 
flavor and equally good for keeping as the Yellow Globe. It 
is an enormous ylelder and always sells at high prices. It is 
best to dry these onions in a shady place and give plenty of air. 
FOR PRICES ON ALL VEGETABLE 
SEEDS— SEE RED INSERT— PAGE 80 
