The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-05-16
Onion Culture on the Farm.

Levi p. Warner, of New Hampshire,
says in the american AgricultqriSt: The
writer has had thirty five years expert.
ence with the onion as field crop, and
has not been able to discover any change
in those fundamentals principles which
are indispensable TO its growth and rer-
feet maturity. 1t requires a fine frm
texture of soil, drainage, rainfall Cor
irrigation) at suitable intervals, and If
the soil has been exhausted of its fertility
by repeated groupings it will refuse to
yield harvest even in these modern
times, because the onion has nothing in
itself to made crop of. In the matter
OF rotation we have increasing evidence
that, with proper tillage and fertiliza-
non, onions may be grown upon the
same held for 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 this crop. While the
hard work has not been eliminated,
something more Is required now. New
and Improved implements have been in
troduced, whereby labor has been very
much abridged. CheGioaf feI tifizers
are more generally used The demands
of the market are constantly changing,
and there is competition on every side.
The successful onion grower of the pres
ent time must be not only a willing
worker, skilled in the use of improved
implements, but he must be a well-read.
careful observer
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 antumn,
after applying half-dressiag of farm
yard manure, to be supplemented with
chemical fertilizers the ensuing season.
In early spring we apriy to each acre
two hundred pounds of high-grade sui
phate of potash, an equal amount of
plain supcrphosphate, and one hundred
pounds sui phate 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 de-
mands of the market must, however,
regulate, to some extent, the variety and
amount of seed used. The after-culture
consists in keeping the crop free from
weeds, and thorough but shallow cult-
vation oft repeated until the crop is
nearly grown. We usually apply one
hundred pounds nitrate OF soda broad
east early in July, and if the crop seems
-toreluire it, repeat the dressing after an
interval of a week or ten days. During
the last half of September the crop is
ready to harvest, when we pull the onions
and allow them to remain on the ground
to dry four or five days before and per-
haps as long after removing the tops.
Then, if the weather has been favorable.
they are in fine condition to store or send
to market. We invariably prefer the
latter, because it gives more time to at.
tend TO other farm-work, which always
crowds at that season of the year, and
also saves cost of storage aud re-sortiug,
though others prefer another course.
Our loss from smut, blight, or mag
gots has been quite small, and we regard
the crop as reasonably sure. Still, there
is an occasional shortage which amounts
10 twenty, thirty, and sometimes even
fifty per cent. Of the crop. 1t comes
alike on the well-cared-for and the neg
lected fields in the locality, and some
times over wide extent of country.
This result occurs, perhaps, not more
frequently than once in a decade Of
years, and we have not been able to trace
II to any well defined cause.