Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-06
ONION GROWERS
FLOCK TO TEXAS
BERMUDA NATIVES PREFER
WESTERN STATE
SUPERIORITY OF HOME PRODUCT
BARS COMPETITION
Reports of Enormous Profit of 100000
from 1876 Acres Serves to Inc
crease interest In
Industry

Much interest has developed In real
estate circles as to the probable extent
of the lands in the United States that
will successfully produce the Bernluua
onion. Since the dispatch in Wednes-
days Herald stating that some l0O
emigrants had arrived at New YORK
from the island of Bermuda, because
their former industry had been destroy
ed by Texas, which has come 10 the
front with a cheaper and better onion,
interest has further increased in the
subject.
Investigation shows that while there
are some few sections of the country
which will produce the Bermuda onlon'
it finds its greatest perfection on the
rich loam lands of the Nueces valley
in Texas and the adjoining lower Rio
Grande valley
DISPATCHES from that section of the
same date showing that 100000 had
been cleared from 1876 acres of Bermu-
das served to increase the interest," IN
the matter. One of the most produc-
tive Bermuda onion farms in the world,
located in the very heart of the most
favored onion section of Texas; in
fact, the original home in this coun-
try, located / 1-2 miles east of CotulIa
LaSalle county, serves as an example.
The crop this year averaged $50 crates
to the acre and sold by the association
at 81 a crate net.
For the successful production of the
Bermuda onion three things are nee
essary, namely, soil, climate, water.
The section named combines all three,
possessing a soil with the accumulated
fertility of ages, a climate almost suo-
tropical and a water that makes the
bulbous plant grow to perfection.
Yields $4,000 Pounds
One particular tract of onion land
is cited that produced seven consecu-
last crop being $4,000 pounds to the
acre. However, fertilizer should not
be omitted and for this they use cow
peas, which is planted after the crop
has been taken off and is turned under
about the last of July.
To successfully produce onions much
care and attention is required and 1t
is no lazy mans job. The ground IS
plowed about the first of September
and disked until thoroughly pulverized
and in perfect condition. The seeds are
first sown IN beds and when the plants
are about two months old are trans
planted into rows from twelve to elgh-
teen inches apart and about six inches
in the drill The soil is never allowed
to pack, as the onion requires lots OF
elbow room to spread out and make
the tender, juicy plant which brings
the highest price in the market.
While Texas has been raising onions
for years. 1t is only of late that 1t
has been raising in quantities in
keeping with the ideal soil and cll-
mate. The demand for these onions
is enomous and owing to the fact that
they will keep for six to eight months
in the dry enables the growers asso-
ciation to prevent any possible glut
in the market and shipping at all times
to that part of the country where the
price justifies.
Small farmers in the onion belt sue
,.Ofi frAr1 10f ~
land, as the onion crop is sure and the
, price and market are sure, and when
the crop has been taken off the land
is replanted to corn or some forage
plant which will mature the same sea-
son, thus practically eXemplifying what
has been called intensified farming,
and cleaning up more profit in net dol
lars for the man farming twenty
acres in this way than he would make
from a quarter section in most of the
farming states of the north.
Industry Is New
When the first Bermuda onion was
planted at Cotulla about seven years
ago much of the land was selling for
less than 81 an acre, as it's value UP
to that time had only been estimated
from the basis of grazing lands. AS late
as five years ago this same land was
bought for $3 an acre; now it sells for
$3.50 an-a and the prediction that
this land will reach the $1,000 an acre
valuation within the decade is entirely
within reason and has the support of
many Of the best posted realty men in
the state.
Many of California's thrifty fore
sighted farmers are taking advantage
of this low price of securing onion
lands and shrewd investors are goinf
down to look into it, as it were every
train, as the opportunity will never
In ir col Tr1nI it~Ey of q
Office of the Truck Growers colony of
San Antonio. which is located at 341
South Hill street. Los Angeles, shows
that interest in southwest Texas is
increasing at a remarkable rate and
they expect to have family on every
tract of their Devices ranch by Janu-
ary 1.