Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-04-17
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From The Southern caltirat5+. :
The Culture of Vegetables.
BY CHARLES, A. PE.lRepY.4


OSIoNs.-Onions were originally found
in Egypt, and SO highly were they es-
tcemed in ancient times, that the chosen
people of God, when on their way to the
promised land; ihurmured' at Gods prov
idence, and sighed for the. Leeks and On
ions of Egypt, again. There are three
varieties OF Onions cultivated, the Red.
White, and Yellow: ThckWhite sis:the
mildest, but is not as easily kept through
the season as the other two, being more
inclined to rot. These are all made from
seed. They may be planted in the Fall.
or in Januars February,g or March. ]
prefer February to any other month to
put the seed in, but have made fine bulbs
by planting the seed as late as April.
There is no garden seed planted, that is
more sure of coming to perfection in; this.
climate, than, the Onion, ifsaoroperly
planted. The soil must be highly en-.
riched, with well decomposed manure. II
is well to soak the seed twenty-four hours
before planting. Plant in drills, fourteen
inches apart, in the drill. Cover che. seed
about half an inch, and press'the earth
solid on them., If the seed come up well,
thin out every other one. The Onion
Bed must be kept free from grass and
weeds, and frequently stirred with the hoe.
A top dressing Of sshes will be highly
beneficial in tke earlier stages Of their
growth. Salt is slSo sh excellent manure
for Onions. The bulbs will be fit for the
Table in Jsly and August, and from their
late maturity, can be kept through the
winter. For an early crop of Onions.
plant the Set or Button. These may be
put in the ground any time from October
to March. Plant them in drills. like the
seed, but put. them two inches farther
apart in the drill. Onion Sets planted in
for the Table in May and June. The but
ton will makea greater quantity Of bulbs,
but they are not as delicate or as solid as
the seed or,set. Buttons planted in the
Fall, in good ground, will make the but
tons again. In planting the small onion.
set or button, do not cover them deep.
Just cover the .'bulb: the finest bulbs are
made above the ground. ..2
OKRA.-Olra belongs to the family Of
the cotton plant, and like cotton, it is ex-
tremely tender, consequently will not bear
planting before the last Of March or the
first of April. 1t may be planted in drills
three feet apart and as it increases in size.
thin out to three feet in the drills. To
have early ."Gombo Soup" the earliest
pods should be saved for seed, but those
stalks from which pods for eating are
gathered, should not be allowed to mature
seed. As fast, as the pods become hard
and unfit for the table, cut them off. They
will if left on the stalk destroy the pro
ductivcness of the stalk. BY keeping
them free from ripening seed pods, they
will yield until Frost. Okra, in good soil
will make almost tree. but it is no ad
vantage to have such monstrous stalks, as
it is difficult to gather the pods, and the
roots take up as. much nourishment as a
tree, which mostly goes to the formation
of stalks, with bht little benefit to the pod
Any soil that will grow cotton will grow
0Sra. The pod may be preserved ful
winter use by putting them down in salt
like cucumbers, or by splitting the pods
and drying them in the shale-C C'ommu-
aicated By DR.. Can,ak. from Transactions
ef Ahe Southern Central Ag'1 Society.