3 88 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
of their fineness and high percentage of nitrogen, possess 
the greatest value. When gardeners keep large flocks of 
chickens it will pay to collect the droppings at regular 
intervals and to preserve them so that there will be a 
minimum loss of nitrogen. All manures, however, are 
prized for this crop. Composting the coarser manures is 
regarded as essential to reduce them to the proper physi- 
cal condition, to prevent excessive top growth at the sac- 
rifice of bulb formation and to destroy weed seeds. Fresh 
manures may be applied to other crops the year before 
or spread in the fall before or after plowing. An excel- 
lent plan is to plow first and then apply and disk in the 
manure. Rotten or composted manure is used to the 
best advantage in the spring after plowing, thoroughly 
incorporating with the soil before sowing or planting 
the onion crop. 
Hundreds of successful growers cultivating lands re- 
mote from supplies of manure must resort to the use of 
commercial fertilizers. The greatest differences prevail 
in regard to formulas and amounts used to the acre. Voor- 
liees (“Fertilizers,” p. 280) recommends, for sets, “50 
pounds to the acre of nitrogen in organic forms, as dried 
blood, cottonseed meal or tankage ; 60 of phosphoric acid, 
which may be partly in organic forms, as bone or tank- 
age ; and 100 of actual potash, derived from a muriate. 
The application of a fertilizer containing nitrogen 5 per 
cent, phosphoric acid 6 per cent and potash 10 per cent, 
at the rate of 1,000 pounds an acre, and well worked 
into the soil previous to planting, would furnish these 
amounts.” He further recommends applications of 
nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia at intervals of 
about three weeks. The fertilizers usually employed 
range from 4 to 6 per cent of nitrogen, 5 to 8 per cent of 
phosphoric acid and 8 to 10 per cent of potash. 
For use in southern states, Beattie (U. S. D. A 
Farmers’ Bulletin 354, p. 13) recommends: 
