EVER USEFUL ONION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 September 1939, Page 3

EVER USEFUL ONION

CULTURAL ROUTINE. • Good solid specimen onions can only be grown by careful attention to many details, and over a long period. Practically a year of work is required. During the autumn, deep trenching and manuring are essential to put the ground in condition for such an exacting crop. The plants should be put in at the earliest opportunity now, when the soil is in a workable condition. In. planting do not bury any of the stem, but merely fasten the roots in the soil. If large' specimens are required, the plants should not be set at less than six. inches apart in the rows. Fifteen inches should be allowed between the rows to allow of cultivation.

When preparing the soil for planting, it is an advantage to"work in some soot and wood ashes. When growth commences in earnest, make use of the push hoe once or twice a week. Encourage the roots to permeate the soil in every direction except toward thesurface, until December. The plants must never be allowed to suffer from dry conditions. A surface mulch of well-rotted manure early in December will greatly reduce the labour in watering. The best time to apply this surface mulch is directly after a good rain or a good soaking with the water can.

If well-rotted manure is not obtainable, lawn cuttings make a satisfactory substitute. Before laying on the mulch, bonedust can be dusted over the soil at the rate of two ounces per square yard. The manure should, of course, be kept just clear of the bulbs. In addition to other forms of feeding for large onions, it has been found beneficial to pour liquid manures into holes between the rows, 18 inches apart and nine inches deep, made with an iron bar or a pointed stake. Fowl, sheep, horse or cow manures can all be diluted in barrels to the required strength. Use a weak mixture regularly.

The bending over of the tops should be carefully done, and above all, i,t must not be attempted too early in the season or the youngest leaves —inside the stem —will be broken and the outer ones cracked across, with the result that new and strong inside growth will begin, and the necks swell,■ instead of becoming smaller. Bend the tops all in one direction, namely, away from the sun.

During the last month of growth the bulbs should be watched every day. Many may have wondered how the clear amber finish is obtained on those prize bulbs seen at shows. Actually it is quite simple. All surplus skin should be removed from the onions about one month prior to harvesting. Press back the remaining mulch material from the bulbs. With a wood label, scoop out the soil from the base of the bulb, practically down to the roots, but not baring them to light and air. Finally with great care, strip off all loose skin, even to showing a little pale coloured flesh beneath. There must be one unbroken layer of skin from neck to root, then one month of exposure to light and sun will result in a rich amber coloured bulb. TOMATO SEEDS STERILISE THE SOIL. Experiments carried out over a number of years have proved that tomato plants thrive better and produce heavier crops if grown in sterilised soil. Two seed boxes were filled with soil. A kettle of boiling water was then poured over the soil in one box and the soil allowed to coolfor three hours. The other box was not treated in this manner. In each box twelve tomato seeds, taken from the same packet, were sown. In due course, all the seeds in the sterilised box 'germinated, while only three grew in the box of untreated soil. The twelve seedlings subsequently made sturdy growth and bore heavy crops.