The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-09-13
Cultivation of Nntons

Il received the Bulletins you sent, but the
one on celery and onions No. IS do not be-
IcVe Is adapted to the climate here In the
mountains Will you let me know how much
difference in time ought to allow for differ
ence in climate in following directions given
in Bulletin No. So Can onion seed be sown in
the fall here for early crop &c. Is. A. Hen
Jacksonville, n. c.
answered by W. f. Massey, Horticulturist
n. c. Experiment Station)
You can safely SOW onion seed in
fall, but it should be done early in
September SO as to form small bulbs
before cold weather.
There will be no trouble in growing
onions from fall planted sets in vour
section. but you can grow better crops
of ripe onions from the seed than Won
can from the sets. We use sets only
for getting early green onions for
punching in March for the northern
maAket. Seeds sown in September or
early October would do Just as well for
this, but Autumn weather is apt to be
very dry. and the getting of a stand
from seeds is uncertain. The Early
Pearl or the Queen are used for this
purpose. If you will SOW onion seeds
in January in a cold frame covered with
glass sashes. and gradually harden
them to the outer air and transplant
them in March, you will make larger
and better onions than by planting sets
now. But the yellow Danvers is not
the best for this purpose. The Giant
Rocca or the Prizetaker are best suited
for this. If you are not equipped for
this kind of work, SOW the seeds where
the crop is to be grown, as early as YOU
can get the land in good condition. We
SOW here IN February or early March.
Select level, mellow land and don't be
afraid of getting it too rich Land is
Phaunar than Lob
plant SO as to cultivate with a mule.
After getting this land in fine condition.
mark out rows 211 feet apart with
one-horse turning pillow In these fur
rows scatter not less than 80 pounds
per acre of high-grade commercial
fertilizer. Then lap two burrows on
the first ones. making sharp lists or
beds. Run light roller lengthwise
the beds, so as to tiatten them nearly
level again, and on these leveled beds
SOW the seed with d garden seed drill.
When the young plants appear aboys
ground. go through with small-tooth-
ed strawberry cultivator and at this
WORKING SOW between the rows as much
fresh fertilizer as You placed in the fur
row>-more Will do no harm. Thin 70
three inches. and keep at all times as
clean as an onion bed As the bulbs
begin to form, work the soil awav from
them. SO as to let them form mainly on
the surface. You can grow better
onions and better crop in this way
than You can from sets. The earliest
ripe onions from sets are the Potato
onions. These make no seed and sets
must be used. You can plant them on
well-manured beds, as above. this fall.
and You will find them the earlies triue
onions But they are poor keepers. and
as the sets are large, it costs quite
sum to plant a large area. You can get
the sets in plenty in Richmond They
are IN two varieties. white and yellow
The yellow grows larger. For growing
onions from seed in spring, would use
for early marketing as ripe onion the
Early Queen. The Mammoth White
Pompeii and the White Garganus ars
also good. But these Italian onions
must be sold as soon as ripe. for none Of
the tiat-bulbed Italians will keep But
for general crop my favorite is the
White Southport Globe. 1t grows as
round and solid as base ball and
keeps well. A globular onion will al
ways give you better crop than a fiat
one. and generally is better keeper.