Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-03-24
AGRICULTURE.


OSroSs.-A field for onions should be
nearly level. Ii there are elevations in
il the soil on them will be likely To
wash away, carrying of the seed before
it germinates, or leaving part of the
onions exposed TO the sun. a piece of
land intended for onions should be ell
tIrely free from the seeds of weeds in
the start, and there should be a deter
nination on the part of the grower TO AL
low none to attain any considerable
size. Absolutely clever culture is es-
sential in producing paying crop OF
onions. Neglect in this matter will
cause u vast amount OF work, which
Will not, after all, insure good crop of
onions. a field of onions can not be
neglected on account Of a demand for
labor on other parts of farm. Unless
farmer has help that can attend tc his
field of onions during the season OF
plowing corn, cutting grass. and har-
vesting grains, 1t will be better not to
attempt to raise The crop at all. The
care of onions, however, calls for light
work, which may be chiefly performed
by old men, partial invalids, women,
and children. Persons who can not
perform heavy work on the farm may
engage in onion-raising TO excellent adj
vantage. Ii Is useless to undertake TO
raise paying crop of onions on land
that's not very highly manured. From
thirty 10 fifty loads of manure should
be applied to an acre of land designed
for producing this crop. 1t should be
well rotted and free from the seed OF
grass and weeds. Cnleached ashes
form a valuable addition to composted
stable manure. After piece OF land
has been prepared for onions it is best
20 continue the crop for a series oil
years. As onions are gross feeders II
will, of course, be necessary TO apply
coating of manure every season. Ihe
soil of an onion-field should be well
pulyerized and the manure thoroughly
incorporated with il After tits plowed
and narrowed roller should be en-
ployed for crushing the Jumps. Many
growers employ a mandrake for fning
| The soil before tic seed is sown. About
| four pounds of seed are required for an
acre. Ii should be the product OF the
previous season. The seed may be
tested by counting out cert Ain number
and placing them on some moist cotton
laid in a saucer. IL good, twill germ
mate in three or four days. The seed
should te sown IS early in the spring
as it is possible TO prepare the land.
Growers who aim 10 get the largest
yield from given amount OF land al
| low only the space of foot between
the rows. There la adrill which plants
1 two rows of onion sesd at once. III
sown by hand one seed should lie drop
ped every inch. In order to mark the
rows IL Il well to drop a radish seed
every five or six inches. The radishes
Will grow very rapidly, and Will be
large enough 10 pull before the onions
attain sufficient size TO bs injured by
their presence. II there Is no market
| for radishes in the vicinity, cabbage
plants may be raised In their place.
| When of sufficient size they may be
pulled and transplanted. The cultiva-
ton of onions must be chic fly perform
ed by means of hand tools. The shuttle
hoe is the best implement for doing
| most OF the work. Ii should be Of the
best quality, and great pains should be
taken to keep it clean and sharp. After
the plants are about four inches high
they must be thinned % that each has a
space of about three inches in which TO
grow. Some growers who seek 10 rfise
very large crops allow three onions 10
grow In the space of six inches. Oi
course they crowd each other after they
have become of nearly full size, but
this thick setting is necessary TO secure
the maximum yield. After they are
thinned TO the proper distance nothing
| Is required by way OF cultivation eX-
cept TO keep the soil light and free from
weeds.