The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-02
onion Growing in the south

The bulk OF the onions grown in the south,
suecally in the home gardens, are grown
ron sets planted out either in the fall or
during the months OF January and Feb
mary. Philadelphia is the chief distrib.
ming point for onion sets, from which many
thousands of bushels are shipped yearly to
sDuthsrn gardeners. Market gardeners
nsnt them out extensively between Sept.
ID and Nov. 10. and market the onions in
tts immature stage during March, April
sud May. Sales can begin in March when
ever the winter proves mild enough and the
paintings are made early 10 the fall and on
rob land. 49,
When the weather of January and Feb
mary is severe. growth is so retarded that
i will be late in April before they are large
enough to sell readily. Some years these
yet grown" onions have great tendency
shoot to seed while the onion Is still quite
small and when this is the case, the crop is
more or less a failure. A few Will throw
10 seed stalks under the best conditions of
weather, seed and culture. and this can
readily be borne with, but when the greater
proportion do this, as has frequently oc-
cured in our past experience, the loss is
very great. This forming of the seed stalk
renders the onion undesirable for table use.
Much depends upon the variety, manners
Of growing the sets, time Of planting them
ont and conditions of the weather, whether
the loss will be great from this cause or
rot
The practice of sowing the seed is becom-
ing more common with our gardeners. as
tbs CnioIs raised from seeds. keep much
better than those. grown from sets, and
some grow their own sets or grow young
plants to set out after the manner observed
with beets or lettuce.
When it is desired to grow the sets one of
two plans may be adopted--the drill or
broadcast. The drill plan is preferable
when any considerable quantity is to be
grown, but when only small quantity is
wanted the seed may be sown broad
cast on beds three or four feet wide, in the
pow or fork any time between Feb. 10 and
March p. Apply no manure I'M
lsss it be little mineral matter
lake TIE beds level aud then broadcast
enough land plaster TO make the beds uni
iOrmly white. This is done to assist the sight
in sowing the seeds evenly. Then sow the
ssed-sorne you know to te fresh and sound
and of good ysriety-st the rate of fifteen
or twenty to the square inch; then roll the
bed with lightroller or straight barrel, thus
pressing the seed into the soil. II tois Is
done late in March and the weather is dry
aud warm, it would be an I'D vantage to water
the bed and apply light coat of straw,
10 remain hve or six days. Ia February
this is not essential, neither may it be in
March; merely helpful in securing prompt
termination In dry weather,
The wedding, Of course, must be done by
hand until the onions can take care Of them
selves. Later three months say when the
tops begin TO turn yellow and indicate ma
tlrity pull up the sets and let them dry IN
the sun, and then put away in dry dark
place until wanted. In soil full of grass and
weed seeds, an excellent ad iunct is to have
Oh hand load of river sand, or, rather,
cean sand, and cover beds one-half inch
deep after rolling it. The sand will keep
down the grass and weeds considerably.
In drill culture have. the soil we'll pulver-
lzed and lay very shallow drills two feet
apart, using a hoard two inches wide with
ssQusre end to lay off the seed drills with.
this gives a drill two inches wide and it
houldI not be over one-qusrter inch desp.
NhlteR this drill with land plaster, then
SOW seed evenly over this drill. Rake
lightly soil enough DO cover Sc ed and roll
Cultivate Just enough TO keep down the
weeds, drawing out any that come up In
tde drill with the hand. Rows can be only
fifteen inches apart il hoe cultivation alone Is
Intended With a little care it is very
simple matter to grow onion sets. The es
'entals summed up are good seed, good
FNlety, shallow sowing, shallow culture,
ust sufficient to keep the soil clsan, and
pulling them at the proper time and hoeing
IN the proper way.
This culture need not be attempted. how
ever, If done in hsphazard manner. As
previously stated we regard the Italian
variety as the best adapted to the purpose.