Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-26
THE FARMER.
FALL AND WINTER WORK.
MS HONORABLE AND PkOFITABLE
VOCATION.
The OnsOn Crop.

| In the temperate parts of Europe and
| the northern part of the United States
| those who wisn to raise onions have only
| to SOW them early in spring, and get the
same season bulbs from three to four inch
| es across. In the Middle states this can
not be done. The seed sown in spring
gives plants which mature early in sum-
mer producing sets about the size Of an
outdoor grape, which have to bc put out
again the next season to make marketable
onions. This double labor and long time
spent on the crop, will always prevent it
from being very profitable one in these
attitudes.
In those parts of the country. however,
where they do we'll, it is surprising what
crops they yield in one season, and what
"pile" of money they bring. In COnnec-
ticut moro profits have been made from an
acre OfOniOas than perhaps from any garden
crop ever raised. Of late years, however
there has been more risk, owing to ''insect
plagues," now in the leaves, and now in
the maturing roots, till the result has been
quite precariOus in some districts. We note
that they have the same trouble in some
parts Of Europe rs VIC have, though there
rs here there arc yet wonderful crops pro-
duced. A statement before us gives u
crop in England to yield thirty tons to the
acre, and brought in ut the low figures Of
that country 81, 900 per acre. The bulbs
were mostly one pound weight. and many
much more. But We know that there are
always exceptional crops Of everything.
One of our most popular wits has tried to
make himself famous by asserting that in
the onion there is strength 1t is rather
a weak joke for strong man, but rs ap-
piled to case Of profit like this, there is
financial strength in it, aud no joke.
In regard to onion culture it has been
noted by the best growers that few crops
like deep soil better than the onion but
yet they do not like it very loose 1t needs
to lie some time after digging SO rs to get
compact. 1t is also found that ashes is
an excellent manure, but there is nOtllin.
perhaps equal to a top dressing of hen-ma-
nure. Fresh stablc-manure il one of the
worst Notwithstanding 4 rank growth OF
top with but small bulb comparatively.
In gardens generally no manure is put on
the onion ground the same season Of plant
ing but piece Of ground is selected which
has been heavily manured for some other
crop the season previous. Generally they
20 in after potatoes or celery, where IN cx-
tcnsive crop is desired.
The Hay Crop.
Those who live near pOpulOas centres
have always great advantage over those
at distance, in the comparative ease with
which they eau dispose Of bulky articles.
A man who has pound Of gold dust to
sell could get it to the Philadelphia market
from the Rocky mountains at almost the
same percentage Of cost as another would
from North Carolina. There would be
very little difference in the profit to each
in either case. Not SO with crop Of pO-
tatOes. The Colorado farmer would not
stand the shadow Of q chance in Philadel-
phia with New Jcrscyman. TranspOrta-
tion would eat the whole thing up. So we
find tho vegetable gardening generally
flourishes best near large cities,
and the more bulky articles of farm
produce are generally those which find tho
most favor. Of these in the Phila-
phia market, the hay crop is the most sub
stantial. We doubt whether within cir
cult of fifty miles from Philadelphia there
is any other crop which as Il rule pays bet
ter. Yet it is singular that so profitable
crop docs not receive more attention from
progressive farmers. To be sure enough
Of ''hay'' is brought in to supply the gen
eral want, but il any one drives through
the district VIC have referred to in the
roads leading to the city and notes the
stuff which goes under the name, he will
surely see that there is an immense field
for improvement in judicious grass cul-
ture. Still, we must admit that there is
from year to year more or less improve
ment.
Some years ago VIC suggested that our
agricultural societies might venture to
take off a few dollars from tho heavy Dre-
miums for race horses and devote some
little to encouraging the growth Of hay;
but We have seen no E,Ovemcn: in that di-
rectiOn yet. Still it should be done. No
better agricultural encouragement could
hay. with well-authcnticatcd :,f1idavits as
absence of any such encouragement our
farmers would do well to turn their indi-
vidual attention to it. What is wanted il
free from weeds and worth
lure and wants Of the grass plant in vari-
)us soils might be SO studied as easily to
bring up the crop to at least double that
which the land now yields in u majority OF
:ases.
We should like to sec this hay question
we'll ventilated. Our agricultural papers
wheat crop, the potato crop, the corn
,rop, and the cotton crop. Let us once in
while have q little attention to the hay
,avc lost by it's neglect.