Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1913-04-04
TRANSPLANTING ONIONS
State College Expert Has Found
II Better 10 Plant in Seed Beds


Wherever the winter j. not severe
enough to kill little onion seedlings.
II Is better to grow the onion crop by
The transplanting method. TO do
this the seed should be- planted in
field seed beds from the 18th of Sep
TENDER to the 10th of October. When
planted at this time of the year the
seed terminates well and the small
plants make, rs rule, a pretty good
growth before the very cold weather
comes ON. During the colder part of
December and January the little
onion seedlings do not make any top
growth, but they get quite stocky.
As soon as the warm spells of Feb
ruHry and earlier March set in the
little onions start growing very fast,
and as rule, they are large enough
for transplanting to the field by the
10Th to the Goth of March. The ear
lier the onions are transplanted To-
the field, other conditions remaining
favorable, the better the results.
Onions not larger than twice the size
of match can be transplanted and
they will grow satisfactorily; in fact,
II is better 10 transplant them early,
even if they are not as large as is
sometimes recommended. II is not
necessary 10 follow the old rule that
an onion seeding shall be- the size Of
II lead pencil before transplanting it.
II the onions are not this size when
the proper time for transplanting
comes which is about the 18th to
the 3Oth of March--it would be better
to transplant them, even if they are
quite small.
Transplant the onions four inches in
the row and twelve to fifteen inches
between the rows. Make the rows as
straight as possible II is a good
plan 10 cut the tops off when trans
planting them, but II is not necessary
to trim the roots. Better time can
be made in transplantlng if boy
drops the onions ahead of those
lrmSplanting. One boy can drop fast
enough for two transplanters. In
mcdiatcly after the onions are trans
planted. they should be- irrigated. II
the water cannot be- had at that time.
the onion, will stand from one 10
three days without being irrigated
Il i very necessary that the land
be thoroughly prepared for onions.
After il has been thoroughly plowed
and pulver2ed, the checks should be,
lay. 20 feet wide and 80 to 80 feet
long; depending upon the slope of the
land. The land being quite soft, the
little burrows m whicE the onions
may be- transplanicd can be made by
u home made marker; which is made
from lxl lumber. The marker may
have three or more runners. If L is
not heavy enough TO make the fur
row place n weight on top. Some
times it may be- necessary for two in
dividuals to drag the marker, but a.
u rule one man can do the work. The
burrows need not be over " to >
inches in depth This method of
transplanting onions Is cheaper than
the old method of simply marking of
the rows and using the dibber to
make the holes. The expense OF
transplanting onions varies consider
ably, but aS II rule, with our present
dollar-a day labor, it will cost in the
neighborhood of $25 to $50 to trans
plant IN acre at the distances men
toned.
The best all round soil for onions
is rich loan. Very sandy, rs well
rs heavy adobe, is not a good soil
for this crop, Since the onion is
gross feeder, there is no danger of
getting the soil too rich. Even if the
soil is considered fertile, il is advisa-
BILE to enrich it by means of manure
or other fertilizers. On the whole.
manure is the best, and when used
in all probability it will give better
results if it We're simply disked in,
. instead of plowed under. Manure
: can be used at the rate of twenty to
l thirty loads to the acre.-Fabian
. Garcia.