Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-25
Orange COUNTY ONIONS.

A letter from Chester, Orange county,
N. T., says:
The Erie Railroad passes through the
finest parts Of Orange county-that rich
agricultural region whence milk and
gilt edged butter were wont to come in
days OF yore. From the thriving little
town OF Monroe on the east to the con-
sentative hamlet of HOWells ON the west
the eye OF the traveller over the Erie is
greeted With q constant succession Of
meadow land waving Ia luxuriant green,
fields OF tasseled corn, rank potato wives
and orchards OF apples, pears, peaches
and other fruits. At frequent intervals
herds OF cattle pasturing in deep after
math arc seen, among them the belted
Dutch, Ayrshire and Jersey. The farm
houses are neatly painted, with large
barns. giving evidence Of the general
prosperity OF the owners. The roads are
fine and the turnouts handsome.
But there is one section of this country
which. AZ this season, attracts the atten-
ton Of the traveller through the sense Of
the cifactories rs we'll as the eye. Il is
the Chester onion meadows. Here are
100 acres Of land, lying on both sides of
the Erie Railroad, over half of which Is
used in growing onions, The land Is
level and stretches far away in the valley.
At . not very remote day this land was
covered with watcr-a small inland lake.
Later il became q bog-meadcv. covered
with almost use ess wild hay. For years
the owners of this land were ready to
cell il At almost any price. Il was not
supposed any crop could be profitably
cultivated thereon, and ne effort vas
made to do 90.
A quarter Of q century ago Mr.. WIN.
Conklin, the owner Of a large part Of the
Meadow, attempted to grow onions on
a small patch. The venture proved 20
Successful that he gradually increased
the acreage year after year. In time the
fex other owners of this wild land fol-
lowed the example OF Mr.. Conklin; the
onion crop began to grow profitable; the
land became more valuable and found
ready purchasers at constantly increas-
ing prices; and today there Is no farm
land in Orange county worth as much as
these same Chester onion meadows, that
NOT many years ego were cons idered to
be almost valueless.
OF these 100 acres. over so are used
exclusively IN the cultivation of oRious.
The ground is black soil and very rich,
bat il Is found to do best by mixing with
it upland earth, coal ashes and manure.
The crop this year will be very large,
this season having been favorable one.
An average yield Is 1D barrels to the
acre, and the yield this year will proba-
biz be 100 barseIs. This will give 10000
as the total number of barrels.
II is expected that the prices will range
from 20 cents to g per barrel, with al
average of $1.50 per barrel. making the
total value Of tbs crop sos. o0-a vaiu-
able $50 acres of farming land. it must
be admitted. At present the price of
native onions ia low. This is said TO be
in consequence of the shipping to the
market some time ago Of green onions;
that IL, these which had not matured,
and which do not look well IN the mar
ket. The onions arc nov looking well,
and thesa meadows viii in few weeks
Be- covered with busy workers, hurriediy
gathering the odoriferous crop. the scent
OF which nov nlutes all who come with
in half . mile Of the fields.