Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-06-27
ONION GROW VS. TO
PERFECTION IN
The VALLEY
One of Most Successful and
Best Paying Crops for the
Rio Grande Farmer--A Few
Onion Notes.

N'iA'A NtNs ~ SipNn 70 EiNaA dNlN3l-
ta@e in the Rio Grande valley, is tha
opinion OLA writer in the "Southwes-
tern Farm n Orchard the excel
lent periodical published in the inter
est Of the small farmer at Las Cruces.
Anent the onion the writer mentioned
has the following:
Onions can be grown successfully in
many parts Of New Mexico. Some
sections seem to be particularly
adapted to the growing of certain va
r~icties. In the Rio Grande valley. for
example, the old lei PdsO" onion.
which is of Spanish type, grows to
perfection, and i'm the past this valley
especially the lower portion. has had
quite a reputation for growing this va
riety, Owing to the great difference
in altitude and climatic conditions
throughout the territory, there is no
doubt hat the methods Of treatment
of the crop in the lower and warmer
valleys is somewhat different from
those employed in the mountains and
more elevated regions. Perhaps one
of the chief differences in regard to
the time of sowing the seed, which is,
usually done later in the season in the
higher and cooler sections.
IT appears that there Is a general
lack of interest in opinion growing,
and every indication points to the
cultivation of a less acreage than for
merly. Even the famous Eel Paso'
variety Is exceedingly hard to secure
The production is 50 small that a large
per cent of the onions consumed, even
in the best onion growing districts of
the territory, are brought in from
other states. In many of our towns,
California onions usually retail for
five cent per pound throughout the
year. 1t is to be regretted that such a
-. - aT F.s.-. @la.Il aNtzf aGnAninINI
when fine onions can be grown in tht
territory. If enough onions cannot be
grown for shipping, at least a sum
cient quantity should be grown Iof
home consumption.
The onion would make a good crop
for the gardener or the farmer on
the small farmer to grow. or course,
if should be kept in mind that onions
are expensive to raise. but as a rule
they are among the best paying crons'
II should also be understood by me
beginner in onion growing that rals-
ing this crop. in order TO get lhe peSI
results, requires close attention. an"
much hard work.
During the past three seasons, the
cxperfment station has been conduct
ing experiments in onion growing on
a small scale. The principal features
of the Investigations have been as ioI-
lows. Testing of varieties, method Of
culture, anu lAlt I'FH -
the varieties grown, and ascertalnlhs
cost Of. production and yield.
Soil.
The character of the soil on when
onions are grown in this section mas d
s,reat deal to DO with the yield. If the
onions are grown on a hHrd duope
soil which packs and baNes consider
obIv after being irrigated, the pulDs
yyiii not develop as large nor as evenly
az when grown in a light, rlch sou. -
a rule. a soil that becomes hafd ana
lacks around the bulbs tends TO re-
49, ~ viald. The onion, which is
- shallow feeder. needs a light, flch
Nil. one that is loose and has plenty
- avaflable plant food close 10 inc
@g,lrface. If the soil is thin or poor
even NJ IT ls light. the yield Will De
low.
This consists in growing the onion
soodiines in a cold frame or ~seed-DGo
and then transplanting them to IN,
,tntd This plan, while not really new
4. being advocated by many u Wy
nnion growers as being better IMAM
rho old ways. The operation 81 TN
Wanting IS usually considered an ~
nnnsive one. For this reason; inc ~
ee~narienced onion grower is lllplt w.
Vim il is TOO laboriOu5 ana NOT ~
Tins nronosition; but as a matter "a
Fact. IL IL no more expensive ala
Ne thinning Of onions IN the Igtu,
Tt,o res,,lts of the experiments WIN
Of tho experiment station snow
a." If Is cheaper to transplant ina"
To inin a given area hautino
JCiu,. 90 Sow Seed for Trahspihh't"I
AS already stated in the M'''Un
Asl5ev The seed should De sIaIVsu ="
IN, gaii. early enough Tor w" pn'ti ~
"old season comes. In order to nave
no nIants large onugh to transplant
~ early in the spring, the sen
.SSould be sown in the open pVu sun
Inc i'm september, or during lhe cur
,ser mart of October. IT Ine $50
started ~ cold frames cnNe,VU care
,,I1 -. fl can be soWn lalel'
go" - he taken to keep the seeu peu
it"o'1d frame well irrigated duIlus
Tyintcr. A quarter or a pouha ~
80 Is usually enough to SOW d So"
"a six feet wide and from lllt1Sn
t~wentv-four feet long mahlns nainnorroc
20 ono hundred and fourteen sgu"l
~ IN case the size of the SEED peu
- hanged. il should he made larETr
.ad Of smaller. The seed - u9u"H'
s.tantpd I'm drills three or tour ihA!
anart. II the termination is goou' Xxx
sted1ings will be quite thlck IL ~
T,iIi Al this rate, It will take II"Il
3I't four and a half pounds NJ seed 10
- ~ This is abount one ana a
-, no.nds less than when planted IN
lFAft IENN /
the desc. ..:,tos
with onions. as with other P'an.r
rarieties are better suited man
n,he,s 10 different sections. VI -
number tested at the eNperlul'n' A.
ttan some have been found 20 Wv
n~oorlv. while others have gwen NV'
satisfactory results. pa,lotta
The Early White Queen ha.le.y"
VINE bermuda. and the Extra Early
1vhite pearl are quite satisfactory l"a
,Iy planting. As a rule. theN "'
good eeper The bulbs are ~
dtnn7 in slze. fiat. and with a MN
oiossv white skin; the tops are ~
small they are very mild ohlons
,rbe f5arlv White Queen is perhaps the
,ast an round table onion in me teSl
INC ned Victoria has given the sest
of any Of the varieties IN uhasr
nizad soils. 1t is a very large Gnu
somewhat globe-shaped onion. anu
nSsdi,m keener. II a large. req anu
f.ir keener but heavy yieldef Is &c
the Red Victoria would he igv
commended. The Prize Taker ana "
Gibraltar are both very go"u
.,teepers and excellent yieiders' ihSSV
,nfons are yellow So color ~ione
.baned. and vetrv solid. They looksu /
,-nrI much alike in every respect INC
c~iganfic Gibraltar IS preferrablc 10
other two mentioned. The Aus