South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-28
Onions in the
Home Garden,
How to Plant
BY a Government Fxpert,

BY Government Expert.
Onions, like potatoes. are a staple
crop that is grown commercially on
very extensive scale The home
gardener. however. may like 10 have
few early homegrown onions for
his table or, If space permits. he
may wish TO grow enough OF later
varieties 10 last his family through
the winter. The onions will thrive
under wide range Of climatic and
soil conditions, but a rich sandy
loan containing plenty of humus
is best suited 20 IL. AS the crop re-
quires shallow cultivation and il
may be necessary 10 resort 10 hand
work in order to keep it free rom
weeds. il is very desirable that the
land should be in such condition
that il is easily worked. AS a gem
eral rule, il is well to have the crop
follow some other one that has been
kept under the hoe and free from
weeds the previous season.
In the north. seed is sown as
early in the spring as the soil can
be brought 20 the proper condition
In the south, onion sets are fire.
quentIy put out in the autumn and
carried through the winter with the
protection Of a little hay or straw
There are three methods OF pro-
pagating onions: The first. by SOW
ing the seed in rows where the crop
is TO grow: second. by sowing the
seed in specially prepared beds and
transplanting the seedlings TO the
open ground: and third. by plant
ing 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, il may be preferable
20 plant sets Under normal condi-
tions these may usually be obtain
ed at planting time for about $3.50
a bushel, eight or nine bushels
being required 10 plant an acre.
Onions planted from sets will ripen
earlier than those from seed sown
in the fields. When the transplanting
method is used. the seed is sOwn in
greenhouses, hotbeds, cold frames,
or specially prepared beds at the
rate OF 1-2 10 4 pounds for each
acre 10 be planted. The seedlings are
transplanted when they are some
what smaller than a lead pencil and
rather stocks The root end of the
Seeding is pushed into the soil with
one finger and the soil is then firm
ed about the plant.
The seed is sown thickly in drills
- 10 IA inches apart. After the
plants become established, they are
thinned 10 two or three inches
apart. The maturity Of the bulbs
may be FASTENED by preventing the
continued lrOwth of the tops. This
is sometimes accomplished by
rolling an empty barrel over the
rows and breaking down the tops.
After these are practically dead, the
onion bulbs may be pulled up by
hand from the soil and spread in a
dry. we'll ventilated place 10 cure
Thereafter they may be stored in
crates or bags for winter use. In the
north, the crop ripens and is har-
vested during the latter part of the
summer and early autumn. In the
southern states where the crop il
grown during the winter. the har-
vesting and marketing period takes
place during the spring months.
There are several kinds of onions
that may remain in the soil over
winter The multiplier, or potato
onion, for example, can be planted
from sets in the autumn and will
produce excellent green early
onions. large onion of this type
contains a number of distinct hearts
and. if planted, will produce num-
Der of small onions On the other
hand. a small onion contains but
one heart and will produce 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
onion that is frequently planted in
early spring for its small bulbs, or
cloves" which are used in the same
manner as onions. The leaves are
utilized for flavoring. Another
onion-like plant is the chive. the
small round hollow leaves of which
are used for flavoring soups. These
leaves may be cut freely, as they
are soon replaced by others.