The morning news., 1890-06-02
Profitable Onion Culture.

There are, says the american AqrtcuL-
t'trist, few uses to which land can be put
that will, under favoring circumstances,
pay larger money return per acre than in
growing onions from seed. Yields of from
500 to 800 bushels are sometimes harvested
from single acre, and in former years Is
per bushel has not been infrequently OBJ
tanned. The knowledge of such possibilities
has often tempted farmers into the cultiva-
tion of this crop without due preparation
and without a proper knowledge of the re-
quirements essential to success. The result
has been not only a money loss. but such
encouragement as has precluded further
ventures. Onions are an expensive crop to
grow, and during their early stages demand
a great amount Of steady and hard work
that is most unpleasant to remember when
the effort has resulted only in failure.
Among the drawbacks to success which be-
ginners will encounter, are:
First, the effort to do too much. 1t seems,
on paper, as if anyone should be able to
manage at least an acre of onions. But if
the onions have to take their chance with a
field of corn, or potato patch, or a good
sized garden; in Short if labor is not to be
available for it just when needed, without
regard to the demands of any other crop,
few square rods will pay vastly better than
an acre.
Second, the lack of proper ground. Onion
seeds are slow to germinate, and il the soil
is full of weed seeds they will cover the
ground before the onions are up, SO that
when the latter do come it will be as diff
cult to find them as to find the traditional
needle in the haystack. 1t is absolutely
necessary that the ground to be used for
onions should have been cultivated for at
least two years previously with hoed crops
Third, scant or improper fertilizing. The
onion, during growth. absorbs an immense
quantity of the nutritive elements of the
soil, and it is not only required that these
shall be present in the soil, but they must
be in such form as to be readily assimilated.
Coarse barn yard manu ure, newly made,
would be of little value; but the same, well
worked into the soil the previous season,
would help fit it for use the following year.
Fourth, inadequate preparation of the
soil. If the soil is not put it the finest
mechanical condition before planting, fail
ure will be pretty certain. 1t will be futile
to attempt to remedy this defect by suose-
quent cultivation, as the only implements
that used are such light ones as the hoe,
steel rake, garden hand-plow, and hand
weeder. The seeds are very small, and have
q tough epidermis. 1t is folly to expect
them to germinate if lodged among clods.
The surface soil, Tor depth of two Inches,
must be as fine and mellow as the roller and
the steel rake can make it.
Fifth. If all these drawbacks can bs sue
cessfully avoided and, poor seed is used, fail
ure will yet result. 1t is hardly conceivable
that any precaution for assuring ones self
regarding the quality of the seed should be
neglected, especially when it is SO easy to
''make assurance doubly sure" A hundred
seeds sown in box of rich SOIL and kept
warm and moist upon kitchen shelf, will
tell the story within fortnight. Ninety
per cent. Of the seeds should germinate and
unless at least rs per cent. do, it will not pay
to use it.
If one is able to comply with all these
requisites, can successfully weather droughts
and floods, has the capacity for infinite
painstaking, and will be satisfied with the
day of small things, he may wisely venture
to plant portion of an acre, and if his first
crop yields at the rate of 200 bushels, and
does not sell at less than 40 cents, he should
consider it sufficient encouragement for con-
tinuing and extending his venture.