Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-02-13

II pOsuTe- " Tic hCllOll VI VIC dbulOs putIG'
Most OF our black prairie SOILS are suita-
I BILE to the production OF onions if they
are rightly treated. The turf must be.
come entirely rotted and mixed with
the earth below. Land that has been
in pasture for several years is easily
prepared for crop of onions, as the
turf il comparatively thin, while the
soil is quite free from weeds. That
portion Of a pasture on which cattle and
sheep lie at night may be conveyed into
an onion-patch to excellent advantage.
A field for onions should be very
nearly level. Ifthere are elevations in
it the soil on them will be likely to
wash away, carrying off the seed before
it terminates, or leaving part of the
onions exposed to the sun. A piece OF
land intended for onions should be en-
tirely free from the seeds Of weeds in
the start, and there should be de.
termination on the part Of the grower
to allow none to attain any considerable
size. Absolutely clever culture is es-
sential to producing u 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 q demand for
labor on other parts of farm. Unless
farmer has help that can attend to
his field of onions during the season of
blowing corn, cutting grass, and harvest
ing grains, it will be better not to at
tempt 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 tine farm may engage
In embarrassing to excellent adyant.
age.
1t is useless to undertake to raise a
paying crop of onions on land that is
not very highly MANFRED. From thirty
to fifty loads of manure should be ap.
Piled to an acre of land designed for
producing this crop. Ii should be well
rotted and free from the seed of grass
and weeds. Unleached ashes form q
valuable addition to composed stable
manure. After a piece of land had
been prepared for onions it is best to
continue the crop for a series of years.
AS onions are gross feeders it will, of
course, be necessary to apply coating
of manure every season. The soil of an
onion-feld should be well pulverized
and the manure thoroughly incor-
porated with it. After it is plowed and
narrowed roller should be employed
for crushing the Jumps.
Many growers employ a mandrake
for filming the soil before the seed is
sown. About four pounds OF seed are
required for an acre. 1t should be the
product of the previous season. The
seed may be tested by counting out a
certain number and placing them on
some moist cotton laid in saucer. Ii
good, it will terminate in three or four
days. The seed should be sown as
early in the spring rs it is possible to
prepare the land. Growers who aim
to get the largest yield from given
amount of land allow only the space of
n foot between the rows. There is u
drill which plants two rows of onion
seed mt once. If sown by hand one
seed should be dropped every inch. In
order to mark the rows it Is well to drop
a radish seed every five or six inches.
The radishes will grow very rapidly,
and will be large enough to pull before
the onions attain sufficient SIZE to be in
jured by their presence. II there is no
market for radishes in the vicinity, cab
tage plants may be raised in their
place. When of sufficient size they
may be pulled and transplanted.
The cultivation of onions must be
chiefly performed by means OF hand
tools. The shuttle hoe is the best i'm
plement 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 so that each has space of
about three inches in which to grow.
Some growers who seek t raise very
large crops allow three onions to grow
in the space of six inches. Of course
they crowd each other after they have
become Of nearly full size, but this thick
setting is necessary to secure the maxi
mum yield. After they are thinned
to the proper distance nothing is re-
quired by way OF cultivation except to
keep the soil light and free from weeds.