St. Landry democrat., 1888-05-05
ONION CULTURE.
One uf the Most Profitable Field Crops, Ii
Properly Cultivated.

ONtoN WI Se-s
One Of the Most Profitable Field Crops, II
Properly Cultivated.
The writer has had thirty five years
experience with the onion as field
crop, and has not been able to dis
cover any change in those fundamental
principles which are indispensable to
its growth and perfect maturity. 1t
requires fine. firm texture of soil,
drainage rainfall Tor irrigahon at
suitable intervals. and if the soil has
been exhausted of its fertility by re-
peated groupings it will refuse to yield
a harvest even in these modern times.
because the onion has nothing in itself
to make a crop Of In the matter of
rotation we have increasing evidence
that, with proper tillage and fertiliza-
ton, onions may be grown upon the
same field for long term OF years,
with reasonable prospect OF success.
But methods and systems have
changed. II was formerly said that
the man skilled with the hand
hoe who would start early and work
hard and long would be sure to sue.
ceed with this crop. While the hard
work has not been eliminated. some
thing more is required now. New and
improved implements have been in.
troduced. whereby labor has been very
much abridged. Chemical fertilizers
are more generally used. The de-
mands of the market are constantly
changing. and there is competition on
every side. The successful onion
grower of the present time must be
not only willing worker. skilled in
the use of improved implements, but
he must be a well-read, careful OBJ
server, and able to direct every opera
ton with well-educated judgment
The soil upon which our onion crop
has been grown is alluvial, heavy
loan, but easily cultivated, nearly
level and absolutely free from stones.
The recent practice has been to plow
in autumn, afer applying a half.
dressing of farm-yard manure to be
supplemented with chemical fertil-
izers the ensuing season. In carly
spring we apply to each acre two
hundred pounds of high-grade sui
phate of potash. an equal amount OF
plain superphosphate. and one hun
drcd pounds sulphate of ammonia:
harrow, drag and mandrake until the
ground is very fine. firm and free
from all rubbish that would obstruct
the seed-sower or push-hoe. We SOW
four pounds per acre of yellow Globe
Danvers onion seed, in drills fifteen
inches apart The demands of the
market must, however, regulate tc
some extent the variety and amount
of seed used. The after culture con.
sists in keeping the crop free from
weeds, and thorough but shallow cul-
tivation oft repeated until the crop is
nearly grown. We usually apply one
hundred pounds nitrate of soda broad
cast early in July and if the crop
seems to require it. repeat the dress
ing after an interval of a week or ten
days. During the last half of Septem-
per the crop is ready to harvest, when
we pull the onions and allow them to
remain on the ground to dry, four OF
five days before and perhaps as long
after removing the tops. Then. if the
weather has been favorable. they arc
in fine condition to store or send 10
market. We invariably prefer the
latter because it gives more time to
attend to other farm work. which al
ways crowds at that season of the
year, and also saves cost Of storage
and restoring, though others prefer
another course.
Our loss from smut. blight or mag
gots has been quite small. and we re-
gard the crop as reasonably sure.
Still. there is an occasional shortage
which amounts to twenty, thirty and
sometimes even fifty per cent. of the
crop. 1t comes alike on the we'll
cared-for and the neglected fields in
the locality. and sometimes over a
wide extent of country. This result |
occurs perhaps, not more frequently
than once i'll decade OF years. and !
we have not been able to trace it to
any well-dedned cause. american |
A0r;rYfffUTisf