Show PLAN FOR ONION CROP plant fan t Will Thrive Under Wide Conditions V Range of e lr tr Rich Sandy andY Loam Containing Plenty of I Humus Is Best Suited Suited Hand Hand HandWork Work Required to Keep Field Clear of Weeds i- i JT Onions Onion sarea are a n staple crop that Is grown commercially on a R very extensive exten exten- extensive tl sive sive scale The onion will thrive under undera r 1 i a wide range of climatic and soil conditions con zi but n a rich sandy loam cong con con- confining fining g plenty plent of humus Is best suited to tolt It As the crop requires shallow cultivation and It may be necessary to resort to band hand work In order to keep keepIt r- r It It t free reo from weeds It Is very ery desirable t k that the land should be In hm such condi- condi that It Is easily worked As a n aThe aIli aY ar nt Y t r Ili I I Iny ny The Onion general rule It is well to have the crop follow some other one that has been kept under tho the hoe and ana free E from weeds the previous sea season on There are three methods 6 b 1 propagating propagating propagating gating onions the first by sowing the seed In rows where the crop crap is to f grow second by sowing the seed In specially prepared beds and transplanting trans trans- transplanting planting the seedlings to the open ground and third by planting sets which have been kept through the win win- ter The first method Is used by br large commercial growers on account of the amount of labor Involved in the others On small areas however It may be preferable to plant sets Onions planted from sets will ripen earlier than those from seed and sown sown i. i tn In the fields When the transplanting method Is used the seed Is sown in n greenhouses hotbeds cold frames or specially prepared beds at the rate of ot three and one half to four pounds for each acre to be planted The seedlings seedlings seed- seed lings are transplanted when they are somewhat smaller than a lead pencil and rather stocky The root end of the seedling Is pushed Into the soil with one finger and the soil Is then x firmed about the tho plant In the North the crop ripens and Is harvested during the latter part of ot the summer ummer and early autumn In the Southern states where the crop Is r during the winter the harvestIng harvest harvest- tag Ing and marketing period takes place the spring months month |