The Delta independent., 1915-07-16
Head Work in Growing onions.


recall four things which are neces-
sary essentials to successful onion
growing here in Colorado-good soil,
a good head, a good back and the
Lords help to win out. OF course
several other points might be sug-
gested but details can be worked out
as you go along. Onion growing is
like anything else, II well done 1t is
easily done and is generally remun-
erative. but IL poorly done it had bet
ter be left undone altogether. While
this is more or less true of any crop
we grow, / believe the onion will
show neglect as quick as any vege-
table and at the same time will re-
spond to thorough and intensive cul-
tivation more readily than many
other plants. Take for granted that
the soil is good, then never use green
manure unless it is plowed under the
fall before. II possible choose a piece
of ground that was kept clean of
seven or eight inches deep in the fall
no matter what sort of luck the other
fellow had on spring blowing The
fact that he happened to raise
bumper crop will not gain you at all,
and he would have grown a much
larger crop on fall plowing each and
every time without exception.
In the spring double disk as early
a nnSCihIa Hara will ha found
that fall plowing has been a decided
advantage because while the laRd be-
comes warm and dry earlier still it
holds moisture much better in the
growing season. Early planting is a
very important factor. March is a
good time in which to plant either
sets or seed but February is much
better. especially for the latter. Now
don't drag the ground as some call it
but use a heavy float-something
about ska feet. Hitch on four horses,
stand on il and float two or three
times or until. as the saying is, the
ground is like an onion bed. If not
perfect 1t will pay to keep on until
It is. Now take the seeder attach
ment off a grain drill. fasten 1t onto
beet drill. close every alternate
hole in the seeder by mailing small
piece of card board over the opening.
connect the spout of four remaining
holes by slipping one end of a rubber
hose over each spout and into the
feeder shoe of the four row beet drill.
Then connect the feeder shaft to the
beet drill shaft by using a sprocket
and chain.
Adjust to SOW three pounds to the
acre. II you are ready to plant
twelve acres a day to do a good job.
do il easily and at the same time put
your crop in so il can be cultivated
rigate often but not heavily II put
ting out sets take the corrugated
roller. remove all the rollers but
twelve and arrange so that the in
side pair will be eighteen inches apart
by blocking up with either one or two
inch blocks six or eight inches square
through which two inch holes have
been bored through the center and
placed on the axle where the rollers
have been removed. You will find
that the marks made by the two in
side and two outside rollers will be
about eighteen inches apart. thus
making four uniform rows, each eigh.
teen inches from each other. Plant
IN in tho fnd
again the fourrow beet cultivator will
come in handy. Fifteen acres n day
can be marked out in this way
II is now that would like to take
the reader by the hand-possibly to
instruct. possibly to learn of you as
the case may be. But let me impress
upon your mind that what / write is
not theory. Necessity has ever been
the mother of invention. Would that
had known the full meaning of this
phrase thirty years ago: use your
head. II the soil has been properly
prepared 1t will be in gilt edge con-
dition. Reason with yourself You
know you can kill more weeds just
before they come through the ground
for one dollar than you can kill for
five times one dollar after they are
three or four inches high.
Besides. here is the secret of grow
ing bumper crop, especially of
onions: Stir shallow and stir often.
The ground being well prepared must
not be cultivated more than one and
one-half or two inches deep and do
not prune the roots OF the onions II