The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-11-29
ITS IMPORTANCE.

The onion crop 10 one OF great tm-
portanoe 10 the rural population Of the
United States. and 10 produ Q on an ex.
tensivo seals, but the fact that hundreds
Of thousands Of bushels are annually
shipped TO our ports from Bermuda,
France, Spain, and Cuba, indicates that
the home demand at all seasons Of the
year ID not yet fully supplied by growers
in this country. It is true that the bulbs
Of the foreign variety appear to be Bu-
periof In quality TO those commonly
grown in this country, but there are
large sections in California and in GER
tain parts Of the South where the soil
and climate are we'll adapted 10 the
growth Of these foreign varieties.
sELE0TION OF SOIL.
The onion requires a light, friablei
Well-drained fertile soil, we'll stocked
with organic matter Onions are extern
sively and successfully grown on re.
claimed marsh sole.
FERTILIzNe.
Soils which are deficient in organ
ic matter, and which have been reduced
by exhaustive cropping should be reno
waited by cultivation in other crops on
which barnyard manure, green manures,
and other fertilizers are literally used
The onion requires sliberal iertilizing.
and since the cost OF labor is about as
great for a crop OF 500 bushels as It Is for
1000 bushels, it is good economy for the
onion grower to be liberal ia the use Of
fertilizers. Soils which have been freely
cropped with CoWP or other legumi |
nous plants are not likely to be deficient |
is nitrogen, although slight dressings Of
the quiCk.aCting nitrate Of soda may !
often prove profitable, while potash and |
and phosphOrio acid must be applied |
more literally. When nitrogen is
needed, applications Of 200 to 400 pounds
per acre of nitrate Of soda in four equal |
dressingalis recommended. Potash may
be supplied in the form Of wood ashes
at rates Of from 6 TO tons of unlsached /
ashes,l of 10 to IA tonsl Of .leached ashes
per acre. Potash may also be supplied
in kainit, 800 to 1000 pounds per acre,
and muriate of potash, 200 to 300 pounds
per acre. A few hundred pounds Of bone
meal.oF other phOsphates may be used if
phOsPhOrie acid Is required.
PREPARATION.
Late fall blowing is generally ad-
visable, care being taken to completely
cover all manure applied and TO thor
6ughly Fpulverizs the soil, but not 10
bring any Of the subsoll to the surface
Seed should be selected with great care
and preliminary test GIFTS terminating
power made.
VARIETIES.
Varities successfully grown are divided
into two olas11Bs (l) American varieties,
the most prominsnt Of which are Dan
vsrs, Extra Early Red, Egyptian, Red
Globe, Yellow Globe, Potatoe Onion,
sballots, Silver Skin, WethenReld,
Whiae Globe, and Yellow StrasOurR; (2) |
foreign varieties, Of which the following
are the more important kinds grown in
this country: Barletta, Bermuda, Early
Pearl, Giant Rocca, Giant Red RoCCa
Giant White ROcCa, Giant Yellow ROcca
Mammoth Pompeii, Marzajola, Giant
White Garganua, New Queen, Prize
taker, Red Viotoria, Silver King, White
Italian Tripoli, and White Victoria. The
American varieties keep longer and are
better adapted 10 most parts Of the
United States, but foreign qualities pos
SEES certain desirable varieties which
give them q high market value
HOW PRoPAaATED.
Onions are prOpagated hOm (l) sets,
(0 from SEED sOWn in the open ground
without transplRnling, and from seed
soWn out Of d60Ts in the iall aud trans
planted the following spring, or from
seed sOWh under glass In January, Feb
ruary, or March, the young plants being
set out az early az tn season viii per
nit. The 6fst method Is extensively
employed by market gardeners who
make a business Of growing punching
onions Il is not recommended for grow
ing mature bnlbs Ia large quantities.
For this pufpoos, sowing the seed Ia the
open gfOund OF under glass and trans.
planting the seedlings isTeoOmmended.
When Get at distances Of inches In
rows - inches apart an acre requires
1920 plants.
CULTIVATION AND IRRIaATIoN.
Cultivation should commence early,
and should b hoqhsnt 10 keep the soil
we'll stirred and 70 prevent the growth Of
weeds. Hand wedding IL necessary IN
the, early stages Of growth hut certain
forms 81 the wheel hoe may bs used with
ad7ailaea for The larger part Of the neo.
ousarg eulti4atitn. Where q Wat8fbup.
ply a reasonably accessible, provision
should BE- made for irrigation whenever
the crop requires n.
HAnVmTmG.
AS l66n ~ tie bulbs attalh foil siE5
ana tops turn brown they should bs
pnlod throWn into WindroW8, andr
allowed % oufe to- ten or more days, or
~ t1cU u danger rom rain the curing
should ho done in open sheds or on the
BAN llll Excess Of either 6un8hih6 OF
40. .IiEhIY 81 |uIuIo iho bulb1. Tie
~ lowmfn UInr01 ~ UiulonrT
on. .'o0 NI1 (Il i.otl|n9 DE bulbs ~ III
'00 inIlll a. U'I ino rII.