Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-07-25
gricultural lore
Onion Sets For Market.

Onion Sets For Market.
There are few crops that for the
land area are more profitable than
onion sets. Good ones are always il
demand and they usually bring fair
price per quart. There are a great
many different varieties of onions
and you have to study which ones
grow the best sets, for there are
more in quart; others, larger sets,
for they will grow better, says writ,
er in the Country Gentleman. Last
year l planted two packages of the
large golden Oregon, two packages of
the world famous Prizetaker, and two
packages of Mammoth Silver skin
onion. These six packages when
sown made a row So feet long. Much
time can be saved in the cultivation
with long rows and hand cuItivatOr
The ground was we'll MANFRED early
in the spring. Then later after pillow
ing and narrowing, a top dressing of
The ashes, besides acting as a fertiI-
lzer, also made the soil loose and fri
able. From now on until the seeds
were planted about twice a week the
ground was cultivated with a hand
cultivator to kill the weeds, which
can be done easier before than after
sowing the seed.
The seeds were planted June 20. at
depth of about one half inch | was
leaving the field when it commenced
to rain very hard, thus packing the
soil, and when the sun shone, it form
ed hard crust on the surface. The
seeds would have died because they
could not have forced their sprouts
through the crust. To prevent this, |
took a single and broke the crust
being careful not to disturb the seeds.
They showed above ground June 20.
AS soon as possible l began cultivat
ing them so as to keep the weeds
uown and give them more nourisn
ment from the soil. From that on they
were cultivated regularly once a week
and also as soon as the ground would
permit after each rain. This was done
to break the crust formed and TO
make the soil more friable. From
time to time, fine wood ashes were
Sprinkled on each side of the rows of
onions. August 81, pressed down the
tops by laying a board on them and
stepping on it. This stopped their
growing, and caused the tops to die.
September II, pulled the onions and
laid in rows to dry, stirring frequent
ly, SO as to prevent the moisture
which comes from the ground be,
meath, rOtting them. October !, /
gathered the onion sets-there being
nine quarts of the Golden Oregon
three and one-half quarts of the Sill
yer Skin, and three quarts of the
Prizetakers.
In the cellar prepared racks in
which to keep the sets during the win
ter. The frames for the racks were
five feet long, Is inches wide, and two
inches deep. To form the bottom very
fine meshed chicken wire was used
and cheese cloth laid over this, to
prevent the sets from dropping
through. The racks were suspended
from the ceiling, and onions stirred
once a week or more. In preparing
them for market in the spring, what
dead tops remained were broken off
and the loose skin rubbed off. This
gives tie onions better appearance
when put on the market. There were
15R quarts of sets from the one row
So feet long, and the price a quart is
about IS cents. These figures are
taken from actual experience and
show the value in raising onion sets.