Onion Growing. 9 
Several years ago Mr. A. T. Gilkison, of Faporte, experi¬ 
mented with transplanting Prizetaker onions, as is extensively 
practiced in other states. The onions yielded well but the bulbs 
did not keep well, and were larger than the market demands. 
Judging from this experience, the so-called new onion culture is not 
adapted to our conditions. 
Seed. Too much attention cannot be given to procuring 
good seed. If the seed is old, its germinating powers may be lost 
or impaired, and if close attention is not given to selecting the 
best bulbs for seed, the stock deteriorates rapidly. Poor seed may 
be accountable for a poor stand, many small and immature bulbs, 
or a large per cent, of scallions. Onions grown from seed as 
commonly supplied from seedsmen, are so greatly influenced by 
our conditions of altitude and climate that the growers soon began 
to raise their own seed. The larger part of the seed now sown in 
in this valley is home grown. 
Cost of Growing. Onion growers differ in regard to the cost 
of producing this crop. Of seven growers consulted, one esti¬ 
mated the expense at $90 an acre; another at $50. The other five 
gave figures varying between these extremes. It is probable that 
on an average $60 will cover all the expense, excepting the cost 
of manuring, from plowing the land to loading the onions on the 
cars. 
Storing. It has been found that onions keep better in rooms 
above ground than in cellars. Such rooms should be open so as 
to admit of a free circulation of air until there is danger of freezing. 
When severe weather comes on a stove should be placed in the 
room if necessary to keep the bulbs from freezing. There is always 
more or less loss in storing onions, as many of the bulbs sprout, 
especially if they were not thoroughly cured; and others will 
decay, even though they have been only slightly bruised. In any 
case there will be a large shrinkage, and if the ventilation and 
temperature are not closely attended to, large losses may result. 
Onions are sometimes kept by allowing them to freeze. If 
they can be kept frozen and allowed to thaw out gradually just 
before marketing, no harm results. But successive freezing and 
thawing injures the bulbs. In general this method of keeping 
onions cannot be commended. 
Insects and Diseases. Fortunately but few insect pests or 
plant diseases have appeared in Colorado. Grasshoppers occasion¬ 
ally feed on the tops, but they do not often appear until compara¬ 
tively late in the season, after alfalfa and similar crops have been 
harvested. They may be successfully combated by scattering 
poisoned bran along the sides of the field. The mixture is made 
