Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-09-06
Bermuda Onions.

Bermuda Onions.
Regarding culture of onions there
are four things that are very necessary
in fact, they are entirely essential to
success:
1st-Genuine imported Bermuda onion
seed.
2d-Plenty of fertilizer.
3~d-Thorough and constant cultiva-
ton.
4th-Plenty of water at the right
time.
The method used by the majority, in
fact. we think all, of the successful
growers of the States of Texas and
Florida, is to plant about two pounds
of seed in a bed about 100 feet long
by twelve feet wide, with ten rows in
each bed twelve inches apart; the ma
jority use a garden drill for this pur-
pose. These beds are made about on
a level with the land, with a small
border thrown up around each so as to
control the water.
They usually dig a ditch on the high
| part of the land so that the bed can
Ne easily 1lOOuCu, dS LIZ NotSA S1otlSA
cover the whole bed uniformly. Water
sheuld be out on the bed as soon as the
seed are planted: they will usually
come up in about ten days.
Cultivation is usually done with 4
double-wheel hoe. Water and work
, again as soon as the ground will stir
nicely. Continue every two weeks I'M
til ready to transplant, which is about
sixty days from the time of seeding.
Transplanting is generally done in the
months of December and January.
They are usually planted in beds the
size of the ones used for seed, but the
plants are put four inches apart in
drills, rows twelve inches apart.
Water and working should be kept
up exactly like you would the seed in
the seed bed until about two weeks
before digging time. When about
| ~three-fourths of the tops have fallen.
it is time to dig.
Dig them and throw in windrows;
let sun dry from t%wenty-four to thirty
six hours; cut off the tops and roots.
closely pack same in nicely Slated
crates t~wenty-four inches long and six
teen inches wide, seven inches deep;
| this will hold about fifty pounds.
Regarding fertilizer use, a heavy ap-
pIication of good commercial fertilizer
broadcast before transplanting. about
1000 pounds per acre: then another
1000 pounds put in with a drill in the
middles about February, when the
onions begin to bulb
Manure of any sort could be used in
connection with cottOnseed meal or any
other fertilizer. Do not use eottonseed
meal unless you place same in the
| ground three or four weeks before the
onion is to be planted; it is entirely too
heating.
These instructions. we think. if fol
lowed closely. will insure an onion crop
where irrigation is used. In some sec
tons of the country they are grown
without water. If they are to be
planted where water is not convenient,
they should be placed in rows twenty
five inches wide and placed three
inches in a row to be worked with a
pillow. The yield will not be near SO
large, but the cost of cultivation is
less. The greatest trouble would be III
getting the seed up without water
You could, of course, use a small bed
for growing your sets. then place them
in the field.
A man. in planting 4 crop of onions
should take into consideration the price
he can get for same, and what it vii
cost him to grow the crop. OF course
any one having an irrigation plant
or a farm located on q running stream
can afford to grow onions at a cheaper
price than the man who has not these
facilities. Thep rice generally ranges
from S1.35 to 81 per bushel. This. OF
course, is according to the production
and the condition Of the market at tho
time the onions arc ready for shipment