Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-05

Onions are not such a difficult crop TO
grow IN many sectins OF the south as
some seem TO suppose, and there Is an
opportunity 10 extend the cultivation OF
this crop very materially In many OF the
southern states. II Is also possible Tor
every person to have an abundant supply
OF THIS very useful and healthful vegeta-
bic I'm the home garden Along the ex-
trene southern border OF the United
states onions may be sOwn In the open In
late October and early November. In
this section the Bermuda onion Is at pres
ent grown with considerable success In
an area lying Immediately north OF this
section such varieties as the Australian
Brown. one OF the choicest onions now
cultivated. may be grown from seed soWn
in October Occasionally IL may be neces-
sary 70 give the crop some protection dur
ing the most severe weather sun furtner
north early onions may be secured by
planting the seed In cold frames In De-
cember or January where they are grown
to the size Of goose quill and then trans
planted TO the open ground as soon as
danger OF severe weather Is past. This
win generally be late February or early
March. depending on the section
Growing onions from seed is much
more satisfactory and economical meth
Cd. whether the plants are grown in a
cold frame OF in the open ground, and the
crop thinned 10 a stand. or by the old
method Of planting sets. BY using seed
the labor OF planting can be greatly de-
duced and even a larger and better crop
secured than after the Old-fashioned
methods so long employed Where onions
are planted in the open ground those
thinned out may be used to set on addi-
tionaI areas. and thus none OF the seed is
lost. which is a great advantage to the
grower. A great variety OF onions may be
used for planting In cold frames and
transpIanting into specially prepared
ground early in the spring. The white
onions. however. are probably greater IA
voritss in the eastern section than the
red or yellow skinned varities. While the
selection OF variety adapted TO the local
ity and the use OF choice seed are matters
OF the greatest importanc. the prepare
ton OF the ground and it's fertilization will
have a more material effect on the yield
than anything else.
Onions may be grown on a great vari-
ETY. os~soils. Clay lands should be put IN
cs1a n 20 grow this crop successfully
By Il addition Of large amounts OF we'll
rotted manure. This viii improve the
texture and make the soil more friable.
Sandy soils should be enriched with we'll
rottsd manure for the reason that htey
are leachy and also deficient In plant food
OF all the substances needed in the growth
OF onions there is nothing more impor-
tant than a liberal supply OF well-rotted
farmyard manure Twenty to % tons per
acre viii not be too much 10 use. as the
value OF the onion crop depends largely
on rapid and Uniform growth from the
time Of seeding until maturity. and owing
20 the large yields which this crop makes.
the soil must be highly enriched. Fres
manure should not be used under onions
as IL Is liable 20 contain grass and weed
seeds and these viii retard the growth OF
the crop and entail much extra labor TO
the trucker. The mere addition. however,
OF a liberal amount OF farmyard manure
TO most OF our lands viii not insure the
production OF large crop OF onions. since
Yields OF from I.900 TO 1.500 bushels and
even more must be secured in order to
make the business highly profitable on a
commercial scale; and even the man grow
ing them for home use desires to secure
a high quality OF product and a liberal
yield on the small area he viii probably
devote 20 this crop. For this reason fer
tiIizers containing from TO per cent
OF nitrogen. s 20 s Der cent OF phosphOric
acid and 70 10 per cent Of potash should
be used at the rate OF from LOO to 1000
pounds per acre. Liberal fertilization
with this crop on land 10 which Il Is. well
suited and which Is properly prepared viii
prove highly renumerative.
Various formulas may be used for fer
tilizing onions. In sections where cotton
seed meal Is available. a mixture con-
tanning 80 pounds OF high-grade meal,
an equal amount of high grade acid phos-
nharn and d ~ -
ash VIII answer very well. From $50 TO