The Worthington advance., 1883-05-10
Bermuda Onions and Potatoes.

Bermuda Onions and Potatoes.
It has been about twenty years sinco
tho first shipment Of onions from Ber-
muda] in quantities to the United States
and from that time to the present the
trade from year to year has increased
till the shipments now reach from 3OO,.
600 to 40O,0O boxes of 80 pounds each
per annum. The seed used is grown in
the Canary Islands, and 10 imported in
the months of August and September,
costing them from 60 cents to 81 per
pound: 1t 10 the only seed found to an
swer the purpose: as it natures earlier
and produces mild onion. Italian Por.
tugal, and Madeira seed has been re-
peatedly tried and found not to answer.
being t,O late to command q remunera-
tive price in the American market. Tho
seed is sown in the months of September
October, and November, thickly in beds
the ground having been heavily m.nur-
ed with stable manure two or three
months before sowing. The white seed
10 sown first. and produces the earliest
crop. the shipment of which COM
mences In March. When the plants
are sufficiently laree-about nix
to eight inches high-they are trans
planted into beds about four feet vide,
the plants being set about seven inches
apart each way. The plants from tho
white seed can be transplanted as early
- they are large enough, and the ground
can be made very rich. Those from the
red seed should not be transplanted be-
fore the first OF January, and the ground
requires to be only moderately manured.
1t transplanted too early, and the soil ID
too rich, the bulb is likely to split into
several pieces, and is worthless. After
transplanting, the soil requires to be
IiRhtened once or twice, and the weeds
removed before they mature. As soon
as the top begins to fall, they can be
pulled, and should lie on the ground two
or three days, or until the tops are wilt
ed, when they are cut, AMI packed in
boxes of fifty pounds each, and sent to
market. and sold or delivered to an
agent who ships them on the producers
account. The earliest usually command
the best prices, and they are frequently
pulled before they are ripe,
cut, packed and sent to market
the same day: Such onions, if care is
taken in packing, AZ it usually is, are de-
ceptive in appearance. and after q few
days they become slack in the boxes,
with long sprouts, and when opened
are unsatisfactory: When the crop is
fit on the outlay is reali zed-an acre of
ground sometimes returning$6Oo to $500:
but the business is to a great degree haz-
ardous, particularly when the crop is q
large one, rs the only market in the
United States. Potatoes are more certain
OF finding remunerative market than
nnInno hppf ro0p,Svo 1oh
lay to produce them. The seed was
formerly Iearly all imported from the
United States, but of late years has come
largely from New Brunswick, Nova
Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, as it
can be obtained cheaper from those
places, and is found to answer as we'll.
The first crop of Early Rose. which is
usually . small one, not averaging over
four barrels from one of seed, is planted
in October, and is taken off
in time for the second or principal crop.
which is planted in January or early In
February: The seed for this crop is al
most wholly the red garnet, and ten
from one is considered good return, al
though much more is sometimes OBJ
tained. The potato requires deep soil,
well nanured and sheltered from the
high winds, and as large portion of
Cuo 8EOuuu susceptible OF culuV0ClOn ID
too much exposed to the winter gales,
and manure in sufficient quantities is too
expensive, most of the planters prefer
raising onions. The ground for potatoes
is usually ploughed or spaded and rsked,
the seed cut into pieces with one or two
eyes, and planted by forcing into the
ground with the fingers to the depth Of
about four inches in rows about twenty
inches apart and about eight inches in
the rows from six to eight barrels of
seed are used to the acre. When the
plants are little above the ground the
soil is frightened between the rows with
fork, and when about six inches nigh
the earth from between the rows is hoed
around the plants. Only one hoeing is
required. The potatoes grown here, If
left in the ground until fully ripe, are of
superior quality; but as few days
oftentimes make a&rcat reduction in the
market value, there Is an incentive to
get them to market as early as possible,
and large portion of the crop is ship
ped before it is ripe, not only injuring
the market value, but the reputation %
Weu.-United States Consul Alien.