The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-09-13
Cultivation of Onions.


ence in climate in following directions given
the fall here for early crop pc. B. A, Hen
Jacksonville, N G.
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 as to form small bulbs
before cold weather.
There will be no trouble In growing
onions from fall planted sets in your
section. But you can grow better crops
of ripe onions from the seed than YOU
can from the sets. We use sets only
for getting early green onions for
punching in March for the northern
market. 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 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
Select level, mellow land and don't be
afraid of getting it too rich. Land is
cheaper than human labor, therefore
plant SO as to cultivate with a mule
After getting this land in fine condition,
mark out rows 214 feet apart with q
one-horse turning pillow In these fur
rows scatter not less than $50 pounds
per acre of a high-grade commercial
fertilizer. Then lap two burrows on
the first ones, making sharp lists or
beds. Run a light roller lengthwise
the beds, SO as to hattan them nearly
level again, and on these leveled beds
SOW the seed with a garden seed drill
When the young plants appear above
ground, go through with small-tooth-
ed strawberry cultivator, and at this
working sow between the rows as much
fresh fertilizer you placed in the fur
rows-more will do no harm. Thin to
three inches and keep at all times ''as
clean as an onion bed" AS the bulbs
begin to form, work the soil away 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 tripe
onions. But they are poor keepers, and
as the sets are large, it costs quite
sum to plant 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 are
also good. But these Italian onions
must be sold as soon ripe. for none of
the fiat-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 a better crop than fiat
one, and generally is better keeper.
The Yellow Danvers is also fine for
spring sowing. For red onion, the
New Opal, is the best 1 have ever tried.
1t makes remarkably solid and hand
another years crop is ripe. The Prize
taker is also fine, large yellow onion,
of good shape and fair keeper. The
white and pink Bermuda onions will
also do well with you and are quite
early. large and fiat in shape and must
be hustled off as soon as ripe. If you
plant onion sets this fall, plant on beds
as directed, so as to have them slightly
elevated above the general surface, to
secure good drainage, and set them
with the top of the bulb fully two inch
es below the surface, and work the soil
away in the spring. But in growing
the potato onion, the soil must not be
worked away from them, but rather
drawn towards them. We have tested
nearly all the onions in the catalogues,
and know that every variety can be
grown as well from seed the first sea-
Son, in the South, as they can North.
But the sowing must be early. For
sowing under glass and transplanting,
use only Giant Rooca or the Prizetaker.
Much larger bulbs of these are grown
in this way, but with other sorts, re-
suits are not striking.
Lime WIZ Injura stable Manure.