ESSENTIAL ONION GROWING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19240, 2 August 1924, Page 3

ESSENTIAL ONION GROWING.

By J. Fleming, F.R.H.S. Seeing that the onion is a popular vegetable with all classes of the community at the present day, it is a matter of continual surprise to me that the cultivation of this esculent is not taken up on a much larger scale than at present, and I am firmly convinced that if farmers were to take up the matter seriously they would find the crop not only sufficiently profitable, but also a clean and accommodating one. The Borad of Trade returns show what large quantities of onions wo annually import from Australia, California, and elsewhere, and what big sums we pay the outsider for them. This is ample evidence that a largo and constant demand exists for onions, and as we may easily hold our own in the production of this most useful vegetable wo ought to meet the demand. 1 may hero state that the quality and flavour of wellgrown, home-produced specimens are very much superior to those found in imported bulbs. The habitat of this most essential esculent is Central Asia. From times so far remote has the onion been cultivated for food that it has newer been discovered that it ever grew wild. The ancient Egyptians not only ate onions freely, but some of them used to swear by the onion, calling it to witness as though it were a divinity. They also spoke of onions as causing strength and clearing the complexion. The usefulness and virtue of onions as a vegetable are rarely questioned nowadays, but many who enjoy them wish that someone would invent—an onion—with an onion taste, but with a violet scent. Fortunately, onions rarely fail on any kind of soil or in any locality, nroviding sufficient care is taken to cope with anv difficulties which may arise. Another point in their favour is that the same soil and position may bo cropped with them for ninny successive years. Personally, I have grown oniong for 17 years in the Mornington district, and within that time 11 years on the same piece of ground, also I have gained 100 per cent, in prizes against allcomers. If my district can produce onions successfully, what great potentialities the Central Otago district offers to prospective growers in the culture of onions. lam fully convinced that, if extensive onion growing wore inaugurated in that district, they would more than favourably compare with imported bulbs. As I have before stated, onions will succeed in almost any kind of soil and in any situation. This must not be taken to mean that all soils and situations are alike suitable for their culture. Some are less suitable than others, ami when this is the case additional work and care are needed if one wishes to excel. Choose, as far as possible, an open, sunny position. This should bo selected during early autumn, and as soon as it becomes vacant at this season a commencement shouid be made by wheeling on to it a heavy dressing of half-decayed farmyard manure, depositing this in heaps over the surface. Trenching is best commenced when the ground is moderately dry by taking out a trench about 2jft deep and the same in width, across one end of the plot, and wheeling the excavated soil to the opposite end of the site, and just clear of it. Then break up the bottom of the trench deeply with a fork, and place on it a layer of the longest manure, covering this with the top spit from the next trench. On to this place another layer of manure, covering it in turn with the bottom spit. If this method is carried out carefully throughout the piece of ground the whole of the bottom soil will be brought to the top and subjected to the sweetening and pulverising influences or the weather. By liberal culture onions weighing 31b and over can be produced, and though many are under the impression that such bulbs are only of seivioe for show purposes, this is a great mistake, for there are no finer onions for kitchen use. To obtain these large onions a groat deal of care and attention are necessary, and the best results can only be obtained as a result of experience.

Deop cultivation is one of tho most important points to be considered, providing, of course, a reasonable .amount of food be added each year. I by no means advocate sowing any seeds too thickly, but I do advise sowing onion seeds twice as thickly as it is intended the plants shall remain. Though no definite date can be given for sowing the seeds, yet from the beginning to tho end of August, varying, of course, with soil and locality and weather will generally be found tho most suitable time. Before sowing, give the plot a dressing of wood ashes, soot, arid lime, dusting this freoly and evenly over on the bed. To soil of a very heavy character a literal addition of road grit will bo found beneficial. After tho dressing, fork over the bod to a depth cf about six inches, stirring in the wood ashes, etc., and break up the soil lumps as finely as possible. This done, leave the plot to settle for a few days before making tho necessary final preparations for sowing. In due course the surface should be raked thoroughly level, and for onions the soil should at all times be made very firm. Very shallow drills should ho drawn from 12in apart. The seed should be well “heeled iir’ by the sower, this being followed by firm treading in the opposite direction to'which the drills have been drawn. The final duty in the process of seed sowing is that of neatly raking down the bed or beds, and this should bo done in as neat and pleasing a manner as possible. 1 always look upon the final levelling of seed bods, and especially of onion bods, as a work of art, and find that it can only bo successfully dono by a painstaking individual. Immediately tho young plants peep above tho ground apply to tho bed l a good dusting of soot, and this should be repeated weekly all through tho season of growth. Tho surface soil between the rows should be frequently stirred with the Dutch hoe, once or twice a week being none too often, because nothing is more conducive to quick, freo growth than regular surface cultivation.

Thinning and hand-weeding in. the rows may bo commenced at an early date, but no attempt should bo made to complete t.ha process of thinning at one operation. Modium-sizo bulbs are preferable and more useful than big ones in many cases, and larger ones can bo grown quite easily by other methods. Therefore, severe thinning is not desirable. It is extremely interesting to those who are enthusiastic over their culture to watch the rapid progress of onions in a well-planted, healthy, regular bed, especially frpm the time they commence to bulb. It will not be long before a. few of the most promising bulbs are noted. During long droughts copious supplies of clca.r water and liquid manure, and they are best given during tire evening. Immediately the finest bulbs have attained a good size and are well finished specimens, partially lift thorn with a hand fork so that the ripening process may be hastened, for on the thorough and quick ripening depend the keeping qualities of the bulbs. Generally. the bulk of the crop should be lifted by the middle of March, for if left longer in the ground many of the best may become discoloured. Every possible care should bo taken not to bruise or damage the bulbs in the slightest degree, or decay will set in prematurely. On© often hears that specimens do not keep well, but failure is generally due to the careless way in which the onions are handled. They should neither ho bruised or roughly treated when expected to keep for any length of time, but be dealt with as carefully as choice fruit. Finish the ripening process under glass if possible, arranging (ho onions in shallow boxes, but placing them in the open during airy weather, in a sunny position, taking core to put them safely under cover at night. For ordinary use and for sowing in the spring a true stock of the Brown Spanish is hard to boat. Hero 1 never fail to grow a good batch of it. James Long Keeping and Main Crop also are both excellent varieties, and are splendid keepers. In conclusion, I may say that this artido is written for the benefit of those wno wish to take up land in our richly-endowed New Zealand, with its great variations of climatic conditions, which, I am quite positive, can, and should, most decidedly endeavour to vastly increase itfi production of this most essential vegetable, for the benefit. of the whole of the people of this dominion, instead of importing onions from outside our shores. BIG EARNINGS OF THE WHITE TRUCK. All over motordom White Trucks are doing profitable work profitably. The man why buys a “White” draws a big dividend on ’ his outlay, and he keeps on drawing that dividend year after year—then ho almost invariably buys a second “White” from the earnings of the first. Wo can back up this assertion with concrete names and facts. We can quote 1 -ndreds of cases where the prosperity of a transport business has dated from the purchase of the first “White.” Here in New Zealand are White Truck owners who will gladly quote this as their own experience. Would you like to hear more about the “White” which has been built to suit your business? Write Newton King (Ltd.), New Plymouth.—Advt. A machine perfected recently will measure the 500,000,000 part of an inch. Keep the kiddies free from coughs and colds with “NAZOL.” Soothes, relieves, penetrates. Is 6d for 60 doses.—Advt.