The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1888-06-01
FARM AND HOME.
Onion Culture on the Farm.


The writer has had thirty.tive yea.s' eX
perience with the onion as field crop. ano
has not been able to discover any change ii
those fundamental principles which are in
dispensable to its growth and perfect ma
turity. 1t requires fine, firm texture Of soil
drainage, rain fall (or irrigation) at suitable
intervals, and if the soil has been exhausted
of its fertility by repeated groupings it will
refuse TO yield Il 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 fertilization, onions may be grown
upon the same field for Il long term of years
with reasonable prospect of success. But
methods and systems have changed. 1t was
| formerly said that the man skilled with the
hand hoe who would start early and work
hard and long would be sure to succeed with
his crop. While the hard work has not been
eliminated, something more is required now.
New and improved implements have been
introduced, whereby labor has been very
much abridged. Chemical fertilizers are more
generally used. Tn, demands 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 Il willing
worker, skilled in the use of improved i'm
plements, but he must be well-rcatl, care
full observer, 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
nearly level, and absolutely free
from stones. The recent practice has been
to plough in autumn. after applying half
lressing of farm-yard manure, to be supple
nented with chemical fertilizers the ensuing
eason. In early spring we apply to each
ere two hundred pounds of high-grade sui
'hate Of potash. an equal amount of plain
uperphosphate, and one hundred pounds
ulphate OF ammonia; harrow, drag and hand
AXE until the ground is very fine, firm and
rec from all rubbish that would obstruct the
eed-sower or push-hoe. We sow four
ounds per acre of yellow Globe Danvers
mon seed, in drills fifteen inches apart. The ,
,mands of the market must, however, regu- ,
te to some extent the variety and amount
seed used. The after culture consists in
eping the crop free from weeds. and thor
gh but shallow cultivation oft repeated until I
: crop Is nearly grown. We usually apply v
rly in July, and II the crop seems to re- +
ire it, repeat the dressing after an interval n
week or ten days. During the last half OF !
ptember the crop is ready to harry est, when
G pull the onions and allow them to remain
! the ground to dry, four or five days be- I
re and perhaps long after removing the t
ps. Then, if the weather has been favor f
lie, they are in fine condition to store or a
nd to market. We invariably prefer the :.
tier, because it gives more time to attend
other teamwork, which always crowds at
lat season of the year, and also saves cost
storage and re-sorting, though others pre- t
II another course. c
Our loss from smut, blights, or maggots t
as been quite small, and we regard the crop ,
! reasonably sure. Still, there is an occasion !
shortage which amounts to twenty, thirty,
nd sometimes even fifty per cent. of the crop. {
comes alike on the well-cared-for and the t
eglected fields in the locality, and sometimes
yer wide extent of country. rms result oc-
mrs. perhaps mot more frequently han once in 9
decade or years, and we have not been able )
, trace it to any well-defincd cause.-lLeVl
). Warner in American Agriculturist