The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-02-03
Continued from LIST page.)


thy. A fair yield Of hay was cut, but
not as much as would like to have
seen. I think the yield was about IL
tens from seven acres. On Parkers
Prairie there has been several trials.
would like to hear from F. on this
subject. am satisfied that all varie.
ties of tame grass can be grown sue
cessfully on our timber soils. Amber
cane has been grown in our town, but
as Bro. Invisible has had personal ex-
perience in cultivating it, 1 will leave
that part for him.
In your paper of Jan. 9th, Occa-
sional asked the best method of pre-
pairing soil to raise onions. Now my
experience is somewhat limited, but
very successful. have followed the
plan of D. NJ Ferry & Co., as near as
circumstances would permit. Their
plan is the following; however, /
would suggest one idea, do not allow
the onions to touch each other while
growing, and as Messrs Ferry Go.
says, be very careful to keep them
free from weeds:
Any land that will raise a good crop
of corn, except stiff clay or gravelly
soil, is suitable for onions. We sc.
lect a sandy loan, with light mix
ture of clay, as it is easier to work,
and produces good crops. Land that
has been worked two years previous
ly in hoed crops, and heavily MANFRED
for those crops, and kept entirely free
from weeds, would be in desirable
condition to commence with. Gather
off any refuse that may be on it, and
in October apply about fifty cart loads
of manure to all acre. The manure
should have been twice turned during
the previous summer, and we'll fer
mented, to destroy any weed seeds
that may be in it. Spread the manure
evenly on the land, and pillow it un.
der, taking narrow furrow, which
will mix the manure more thoroughly
with the soil. This will be all the
preparation needed in the fall. AS
early in the spring as the ground can
be worked without injury, give it
thorough dragging, first with an iron
drag, then with a brush drag, after
which rake the entire piece with steel
hand rakes.
Stretch your line perfectly straight
along one side of your bed, then with
a wooden understanding five
teeth fourteen inches apart-mark off
your ground, running the outside
tooth along the line; returning, place
the outside tooth in the last mark,
and follow it for a guide, repeating
the operation until the piece is all
marked.
We use a Seed Drill with a roller at
tached. Most of the Drills have
places in the bottom of the feed box
numbered: No. usually sowing four
pounds of seeds to the acre, No. five
pounds, No. 6 six pounds. Sow the
thinnest when large onions are
wanted, provided you can rely on
your seed. Procure good SEED at 1vhat-
ersr price, for without 1t all yo,tr labor
,siN be lost. Cover the seed half an
inch deep. AS soon as the onions are
up so they can be seen the length of
the row. give them the first hoeing,
just skimming the ground between
the rows. We use hoe made ex-
pressly for that purpose: The blade
is eight inches long and one and Il
half broad, with a long crooked shank
set in a handle five feet long. The
shape or the hoe allows the earth to
pass over the blade without moving
it out of it's place. In few days af-
ter, give them the second hoeing,
this time close up to the plants, after
which wedding must be commenced.
This operation requires to be careful
" and thoroughly done. The weeder
must get down to his work on his
knees, astride of the row, stirring the
earth around the plants, in order to
destroy any weeds that have just
started and cannot be seen. In ten
days or two weeks they will require
another hoeing and wedding similar
to the last, and two weeks later give
them still another hoeing, and if nee
essary, another wedding. If the work
has been thoroughly done. and at the
proper time, the crop will not need
anything more until ready to gather.
When the tops die and fall, the crop
should be pulled and spread evenly
on the ground to dry; in about a week
after being pulled, turn, or rather stir
them with wooden rake, and when
the tops have become perfectly dry,
cut them off one-half an inch from
the bulb. When the crop is designed
for market, it should not be exposed
to the wea Their longer than necessary
to cure the crop, as the onions will
lose their bright color ty exposure.
INCOq.
Meeting Of the Board Of County
Commissioners Of Wadena 90.