Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-09-22

"
clover, under the best cultivation will
yield two and II half tons to the acre;
though this would be very high aver
age. As far as my own observation
goes, the red top, though most excel
lent hay for every kind of stock, never
yields great weight Of hay to the acre.
The average crop of potatoes rs about
two hundred bushels 10 the acre. Rhode
Island heretofore has been remarkable
for the quality Of its potatoes. a kind
called the Elam potato, u long, white,
kidney potato, taking its name from II
gentleman who first cultivated it here,
was hong time celebrated; but has Civ
en- place to the pink-eye and the Che
mango. "A veiy great crop here, and
one moro cultivated at Bristol, is the on
ion The cultivation is said somewhat
to have declined on this island; the crops
for some cause not having yielded so
well as formerly; but at Bristol, about
fifteen miles above Newport, is pursued
very extensively and successfully. The
produce of the onion crop last year in
Bristol, have been crcdibly informed, 4,
exceeded thirty thousand dollars. The
red onion is that which is principally col
lccted, being the greatest favorite in the
West India market. Tho cultivation
ofihe crop is simple and well understood
A good crop will give from four to five
hundred bushels. The cost Of cultiva-
ton very much exceeds that Of corn;
some give it as their opinion three times
as much labor is demanded on an acre
of onions as on an acre OF corn. They
are subject to few casualties, provided
the seed is good; end the seed is never
safe, if more than one year old. II is
a singular feature in the habits Of this
plant that it bears planting year after
year, without any dimnuiion Of the crop
on the same ground. l saw one field of
two or three acres on which onions had
been grown every year for more than
forty years, and with equal success
The land pays for manuring well; though
they are not particular rs to the kind OF
manure applied, preferring however, a
rich compost to green manure. The
large sized onions are put in barrels; the
smaller sized are strung in lunches; the
weight Of The lunches being about three
and half pounds. The land is marked
out in rows about one foot wide with n
machine resembling n boys sled with
four runners, making ,hrco rows at n
time, one runner being kept in the fourth
track Of the last marking. The seed is
then dropt and covered very lightly by
hand in hills about six inches distant in
the row; and four plants are generally
left standing in each hill. The great
business afterwards is TO hoe them, and
keep them free from weeds. Two kinds
are cultivated; an early and late kind -
The former are usually ripe in August,
and sent TO the market as soon as may be
after ripening. The crop is upon the
whole Of easy and profitable cultivation.
/ was ut the house Of one farmer on the
island who keeps about one hundred
sheep, and who the last winter applied
his onions, which were too small for the
market, to the feeding of sheep; and he
adds, with advantage to the sheep; use
OF onions, | venture to say, altogether
novel. The advantages Of obtaining sea
manure both at Newport and Bristol are
very great: but particularly at the former
place. Vast quantities are constantly
driven upon the shore by winds and tides;
and much is gathered in boats from the
rocks. 1t is used in compost and as top
dressing. The ee!grass is seldom used,
but in composts; and principally as litter
for swine, the rockweed has great effect,
when applied as top-dressing on grass
ground. Common beach sand is like
wise used a. top dre s~ing and in compost
y ial q,
in rnDI-t cad ss5i. ~ the bill for potatoes
with .s,cces, Bg; one Ct their principal
rSzusrs "a TIE - " Nennsdcn fish" small
Es,h III cypenr, nee reese Mbling the herring
or a.evre These are taken in great
quantities, ~ large seines; and are sold
si the rate Of fourteen cents per barrel
!or manure. They are most frequently
spread broadcast among the growing
corn, and left undisturbed upon the sur
face; or they are carried into the barn
yard and rIiiKed 10 compost Their ef-
feets IN either case are said 10 be very
powerful. The ooor Of them, while rot
ting in The field, is most certainly power
full.
1t is obvious that could give bu, a
cursory view Of the agriculture Of these
places. But I can say with propriety
that their agriculture, though admitting
many obvious Improvements, il highly
respectable; and the island from its re-
markable salubrity, the fertility of the
soil, and the beauty and many advanta-
ges Of its situation, seems destined to
become favoriie place Of residence for
industrious and enterprising cultivators