Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1917-03-31
TIMELY HINTS FOR
HOME GARDENER;
ONIONS IN GARDEN
ONIONS SHOULD BE GROWN VERY
EXTENSIVELY IN HOME
GARDENS.
SOME USEFUL INFORMATION TO
MANY GARDENERS IN MAR.
TINsBURG.
AGRICULTURAL LETTER RELEAS.
ED BY U. S. DEPARTMET OF
AGRICULTURE.

Onions, like potatoes. are a staple
crop that is grown commercially on
very extensive scale The home
gardener. however, may like to have
a few early homegrown onions for
his table or, if space permits, he may
wish to grow enough of later vari.
ties to last his family through the
winter The onion will thrive under
wide range of climatic and soil con-
ditions, but a rich sandy loan con
tanning plenty of humus is best suited
to it. As the crop requires shallow
cultivation and it may be necessary
to resort to hand work in order to
keep it free from weeds, it is very
desirable that the land should be in
such condition that it is easily work
ed AS a general rule. it is we'll to
have the crop follow some other one
that has been kept under the hoe and
free from weeds the previous sea-
son.
In the north, seed is soWn as early
in the spring as the soil can be
brought to the proper condition In
the south, onion sets are frequently
put out in the autumn and carried
through the winter with the protec-
tion OF a little hay or straw There
are three methods of propagating on
ions: the first, by sowing the seed
in rows where the crop is to grow;
second, by sowing the seed in spe-
cially prepared beds and transplant.
ing the seedlings to the open ground;
and third. by planting sets which
have been kept through the winter
The first method is used by large
| commercial growers on account of
the amount of labor involved in the
others. On small areas, however, it
may be preferable to plant sets. I'm
der normal conditions trese may us
ually be obtained at planting time for
| about $3.50 a bushel or bushels
being required to plant an acre On
ions planted from sets will ripen earl
Ter than those from seed sown in the
fields. When the transplanting meth
cd is used, the seed is sown in green
houses, hotbeds, cold frames, or spe-
cially prepared beds at the rate OF
IL to pounds for each acre to be
planted. The seedlings are trans
planted when they are somewhat
smaller than a lead pencil and rather
stocky. The root end of the seed
ling is pushed into the soil with one
finger and the soil is then frmed
about the plant.
The seed is sown thickly in drills
about IL to IA inches apart After the
plants become established, they are
thinned to or 3 inches apart The
maturity of the bulbs may be hasten
ed by preventing the continued growth
of the tops. This is sometimes ac-
complished by rolling an empty bar
rel over the rows and breaking down
the tops. After hese are practically
dead, the onion bulbs may be pulled
up by hand from the soil and spread
in a dry, well-ventlated place to
cure. Thereafter they may be stor-
ed in crates or bags for winter use.
In the north, the crop ripens and is
harvested during the latter part of the
summer and early autumn. In the
southern states where the crop is
grown during the winter, the harvest
ing and marketing period takes place
during the spring months.
There are several kinds of onions
that may remain in the soil over win
ter. The multiplier or potato onion,
for example can be planted from sets
in the autumn and will produce excel
lent green early onions. A large on
ion of this type contains a number
of distinct hearts and il planted will
produce a number of small onions.
On the other hand, small onion con
tains but one heart and will produce
a large onion A few of the large
ones may be planted each year to
produce sets for the following years
planting
The shallot is a variety Of small on
ion that is frequently planted in early
spring for its small bulbs, or
Gloves" which are used in the same
manner as onions. The leaves are
utilized for fiavoring. Another onion
like plant is the chive. the small
round hollow leaves Of which are us
ed for flayoring soups. These leaves
may be cut freely, as they are soon
replaced by others.
viii Build DWELLING