The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-08-06
Onions. Their Varieties and Gull
ture.
10 be continued

~ o1SAS1dCbOly AOCNAOD N~SO~-~
by growers of the Bermuda onion
from seed obtained direct from the
Islands induces me to think that the
extended cultivation of this esculent
in Florida no longer admits OF doubt,
and that the superior produce will in
future find its way into consumption
in our Northern cities. Apart from
its crisp, mild flavor, large size, and
superior excellence, the fact remains
that it is in season just at the time
Northern onions are scarce IN the
market, which from long keeping are
rank and disagreeAble in flavor. The
subject thus becomes one OF para
mount interest to our horticultural
friends, as means of adding to their
income, and thus developing the re-
sources of this State. An immense
trade is done in England, importing
the large, imposing looking onions
from European countries and islands
within the Orange Belt and, standing
as they do on their own merits, i'm
measurably superior-are recognized
as distinct feature in the onion line,
and do not meet with competition
from those grown in che Northern
ATTITUDES, 1t was long contended
that the imported onions were char
acteristic Of distinct variety, but from
experiments made in Eng land by the
Fruit Committee of the Royal horti-
cultural Society, in 1869, such has
proved not to be the case; and that
the quality was due to climatic causes
which, however, by skilled cultlva-
ton, these types, or better, could be
reproduced in England. The report
of the committee represents varieties
cultivated in England, and also in
Germany, France, Holland and Por-
tugal. The object was to ascertain
if the onion Of the grocer's store was
peculiar to Portugal or had repre-
sentative in England From a very
careful examination it was concluded
that the onion Of the grocers is fairly
represented as regards shape, size,
and produce in the brown-skinned
varieties of the globe. James.keep-
ing and pear-shaped, a preponder-
ance of the pear shaped being among
those grown from Portuguese seed
1t was also found that the Tripod
varieties of onions produced in Eng
land, under ordinary treatment, much
larger bulbs than those above men.
toned, while the Trebon stood out
prominently for size and symmetry
thus proving that these fine imported
onions or the grocer's are the result
of favorable climate, combined with
the special attention which is given
to the cultivation of this bulb in
Portugal.
Being interested in the culture at
the time, (1S70) and then resident
barely within the line OF the topics,
made similar experiments with the To-
cal kinds-kinds that vie with all the
attributes of the famous Bermuda
agains varieties obtained from seed
from France, England and Germany,
and obtained results verifying the
English report, and fully convinced
habit andrepute(a lis the way of saying
and doing anything where speciality
is dominant)to the contrary-that bet
ter kinds OF the onion are capable of
being grown and can be got. That
all the specimens OF Bermuda onions
grown in Florida are considerably
mixed does not admit of doubt, and
it is questionable that by paying the
high price demanded for imported
seed, if we do not overlook the. fact
that the identical and also superior
kinds are to be had for less money
from reputable seed houses.
An idea prevails here more or less
that onions Of the North can only be
raised from sets-a convenience for
those who are behind in their plant
ing season, and who do not care to
trouble raising seeds; but by far the
finest produce will be from seed main
tanned in growth from sowing to har-
vesting; and this applies TO all the
kinds so far as this State is concerned.
Seed sowing should be begun or in
progress about the time of the au-
tumn equinox, and continued later
for succession crops. The practice
obtained here is sowing in specially
prepared beds about four feet broad
tor convenience of wedding the ridge,
preventing over saturation. Either
drills or broadcast is a matter Of
pleasure. If on poor land it must be
enriched, and well decomposed stable
manure answers as well as anything.