The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1875-01-23
&C 30 .---nI..

#4atEA ttffI NtH4NE
"a renen to much inquiry II re.
yard Be tfse onion and iis culture, We
publish he following alaele rom l8e
s pen ar MI Charles Narmseis 81 Cln.
einnoti. The directions are plain ana
simple. and being the results oi aetnal
experience nre reliable:
i This little, SEEMINGLY insignificant
plant has occupied, and still does Oceu-
py, 3 very important position a the
vegetable world. Of ancient family. 10
hiss strong clasm M responsibility, AZ
We find it mentioned SIS The Bible, un-
+ der the head Of leek over two thousand
i years apo. ia Egypt Ii WIS highly
! esteem 81 and from tllnt country g was,
Inc doubt. spread throughout the known
world
The properties OF the onion has from
time imnenorial occupied % important
/ place ia Che list Of family medicines.
IT'S virtues as cure for Group, soar
fhroai. end at their kindred ailments,
ara SO we'll known that they need barely
berepeated And the wegld e indebted
to this humble production Of nature
for some Of tho most saEnable com
pounds in maseria meaica. IA the
ahape Of syrup II forms an import part
Of some Of the most valuable cnres for
dyspepsia, nginRrg diseases, etc. In
fact, 1t would t impossible 10 enumer-
ate its many virtues, independent of Its
valne as an eseulent in the culinary
department Of domestic economy.
With ordinary care and anything
like the attention paid to q common
crop. m acre Of ground can be made to
produce ~ least three hundred bushels.
According to my experience, two hun-
dred to two hundred and fifty bushels,
on ground we'll manned, is only fair
crop on an acre. I have but in one in
stance raised less than three hundred
bushels, although my land is not pecu-
liarly adapted 10 onion raising. AT
the low priceof S3 per barrel, this crop
II worth III the market s 800 per acre.
Win anything else pay better2 / think
nos I viii endeavor in a few words |
to show how such result can be pro
dueed
Select a loamy, friable soil, with q
fair mixture Of clay, as nearly level as
possible clear 81 gravel and stone. If
you have none clear Of stone, it viii
pay to rick them off. as they will Sc |
riously interfere with the culture Of the
plant. A sandy, gravellY subsoil should |
be particularly avoided. The longer
and more constantly the land has been
cultivated the better for yonr crop, as
the weeds win have been kept ont.
Select short, well-rotted manure
Compost 81 hog manure, ashes, lime,
night soil and such like is best liz
possible, prepared to lie over winter SO
That IL may be thoroughly decomposed
wien wanted for use. If this is not to
be had, then rake and separate your
short manure from yonf barn-yard ma
nure. Never nse long manure The
trouble cf separating viii pay. Glano
~ bone manure Ia excellent; but II The
compost il I'd he had on the farm, I |
would always prefer It. Don't stint. |
Use plentifuliy. If you 40 II at an, a.
IL well. AS The onion draws its susie
nance principally from the top soil,
keep your manure as near the surface
"a practicable for the purpose of incor-
poratinR Ii thoroughly with the soil. |
DO not plough deeper than eight
inches.
1T is OF great importance 10 secure
fresh and good seed. The surest way
Il ID grow Yoar own seed II yau are
d beginner. procure ID from a reliable |
source. The old method Of testing the |
seed IL 70 put 1t into a vessel filed with |
water, calling TINT which sinks good,
and that which floats worthless. This |
is not always reliable my own way Is
ID wet piece Of wooden cloth, spread |
the seed upon it, fold ii together and /
lay 1t il q moderately warm place, The /
good seed will soon eprout.
It lis a fact that south Of New York /
the seed az the onion viii not form
full grown onion tlie fEst year 1T ma
lures III what Is called a set, on a capital,
for the next years crop. tn fact, two /
wears nre required below that latitude
70 make q fully developed onion but
when 50, like all growth Of the South,
they are valuable. When practicable, |
il Ii much better for &C farmer To buy
sets, and reap the Immediate resultant /
profit 81 the crop. Where labor Is
cheap and plentiful, il may pay Ga
raise sets from seed; but as q general /
thing It Il better u buy. II II can lie
done mt fair price Ia the Northern
States the seed win produce crop 81 |
onions the frst year; but il viii not
produce what il properly called d set. /
The SETS So called III that country, are
simply immature 81 unripe onions,
either pulled before their tigne. checked |
n their growth, oF selected from the