Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-09
Planting a Crop Of Onions.
[Denver Farm and Field.l

lDenVer Farm ana F1eld,I
A largely increased acreage in onions
is to be put in this season by growers in
the vicinity of Denver. Brighton, Gree
ley, Fort Collins and other places.
Planting has been progressing for two
or three weeks, as the weather has been
exceptionally mild and genial, and the
ground has been in good condition. Fall
ploughing is preferable is most parts of
the country, but 1t should be deferred
as late as possible. Any manure which
has been previously applied should be
short enough to allow the pillow to turn
II entirely under the surface. The char
actcr of the soil will determine the prop
err depth for blowing. If the land is rich,
loose and friable to the depth of ten or
or more inches. there Is little danger of
blowing too deep. 1t is never desirable
to turn up a stiff. heavy subsoil in pre-
pairing ground for onions, for this in
variably diminishes the yield, renders
cultivation more difficult and requires
more frequent tilling.
Fail blowing is especially desirable
with new soils, pastures and alfalfa
sods. 1t has'ens the decay of vegetable
matter and the alternate freezing and
thawing of winter and early spring
thoroughly pulverizes the soil. The
ground also can usually be worked
sooner in the spring. which Is great
desideratum in sections where II IL i'm
portant to sow the seed or set the bulbs
at the earliest possible date. No labor
necessary to put the soil in a thorough
ly fine condition should be spared. A
disk harrow is almost indispensable If
clods and Jumps are numerous. The
roller and this instrument may be used
alternately with advantage. disk
harrow which contains IL large number
of small disks is excellent to follow one
with larger disks. but the ordinary
smoAt thing harrows will answer the pur-
pose on many soils. After thorough
narrowing a plank drag should be EN-
ployed to level the surface and make II
smooth for planting.
1t Is impossible to secure satisfactory
results without seed of superior quail
ity. Growers sometimes make the mis-
take of purchasing seed of uncertain
vitality because II Is cheap. The cost
OF seed Is a small item compared with
the other expenditures necessary for a
profitable crop, and an attempt to re-
duce the cost OF production by purchas-
ing inferior seed Is always injudicious,
Earliness in sowing Is of the greatest
Importance. The soil should be har
rowed and rendered fit for sowing the
first day that 1t is dry enough to use
implements. The seed may be sown by
hand or with garden drill. If the soil
is In the proper condition about four
mounds OF seed should be used to the
acre, which will require twelve to four
teen seeds to a foot.
An inch is not too deep for the seed
II the ground is sandy or very loose.
Cultivatlng and wedding Is more easily
accomplished when deep sowing is
practiced. but part of the soil must he
drawn away from the bulbs when they
begin to bottom, unless the ground IL
so light that 1t will not prevent the
proper development OF the onions The
drills should he made from twelve to
fourteen inches apart. a marker at
tachment to the drill is valuable in
marking straight rows. This Is an i'm
portant matter, for straight rows, with
a uniform distance between them.
greatly add 10 the application OF irriga-
ton and facilitates the use OF the wheel
hoe. a line may be stretched as n
guide by which TO drill the first row.
IL the spaces become irregular as the
oneration proceeds, the rows should he
Strengthened from time to time to time
by means OF the line. ..