Judy Wooten, age 12, of Charleston, W.Va., for her question:

WHY DO ONIONS BURN YOUR EYES?

Strong taste and strong odor are two o£ the characteristics of the onion. And it can make some people cry, too.

A mildly stimulating oil is responsible for the odor. When the onion is cut, the oil readily turns into a vapor which goes into the air. The vapor can affect the nerves in the nose which are connected to the eyes. When this happens, the person peeling or cutting the onion will find tears flooding in his eyes.

The onion was first found in Mongolia. It came to America about 1750. Today the leading onion growing state in the United States is California. Following as outstanding onion growing states, in order, are Texas, New York, Oregon, Michigan, Idaho and Colorado.