CULTIVATION OF THE ONION. 



515 



subdivided will answer. But the general 

 innpression seems to be, that manure from 

 stables, where the horses are freely fed with 

 grain, is the best ; and that it should be at 

 least one year old, because it will nut be 

 sufficientlv rotten in a less time. All agree 

 that the dressing for the land should be kept 

 near the surface, well mi.xed, and as fine as 

 possible. Though we have seen the pre- 

 sent year a very superior growth of onions, 

 where green manure from the barnyard was 

 applied in the spring ; but particular pains 

 were taken to subdivide and intermingle it 

 with the soil ; and to bush-harrow the land 

 so thoroughly, that very little manure was 

 exposed upon the surface. 



Muscle-bed is frequently used upon onion 

 land. A portion of this is deemed by some 

 almost indispensable. We have known the 

 continued use for half a dozen years in suc- 

 cession, even without other manures, with a 

 continuation of fair crops ; but the general 

 impression is, that it will not do to repeat 

 the application of muscle-bed many years in 

 succession. The effect being to harden the 

 land, and make too much of a crust about 

 the surface. Without question, the effect 

 of the muscle-bed is congenial to the growth 

 of the onion, giving those who live in the 

 vicinity of rivers where it is found, a spe- 

 cial advantage over those who are remote 

 from it. 



Leached ashes are also a valuable manure 

 in the cultivation of the onion ; more so 

 when leached than before. All kinds of 

 ashes are advantageously applied on onion 

 land. 



Compost mamtre made of meadow mud 

 and droppings from the cattle, we have 

 known advantageously applied on onion 

 fields; but we have many doubts as to this 

 being the best application of this kind of 

 manure. A more lively and quickly opera- : 

 ling manure is better for the onion ; one 

 that will give them an early start, and ad- i 

 vance them as fast as possible, in the first j 

 part of the season. The utmost vigilance | 

 and activity is used by our cultivators in i 

 getting their land ready, at an early period 

 of the season, for the reception of the seed. I 

 It is the first field labor of the spring. The j 

 use of compost manure will depend much i 

 upon the constituents of the soil with which j 



it is mixed. If the soil be a sandy loam, 

 with a porous subsoil, the compost will do 

 tolerably well ; but if it be a black soil, with 

 a clayey subsoil, such as are most of the 

 lands where onions are raised in this vici- 

 nity, stable manure, or muscle-bed, or 

 leached ashe?, or a mixture of these, will be 

 a better application. The quantity ordinarily 

 applied annually is from four to five cords to 

 the acre. Whatever is applied should be 

 generously applied. It will be vain to ex- 

 pect full crops of onions, without full manu- 

 ring. When the manure is collected, it is 

 benefited much by a free application of 

 elbow grease in its preparation. The culti- 

 vator of the onion must work early and late, 

 and in good eirnest. Nothing short of for- 

 cible and persevering labor will answer. 

 No man who is afraid of soiling his hands or 

 the knees of his troiosers wiU do to engage 

 in this business. Close v.-ork at the proper 

 time, is the only sure guaranty of a good 

 crop. 



3, The raising and planting of the seed. 



In relation to the onion, as well as all 

 other vegetables, much care is necessar}* in 

 the selection of the plants for seed, and the 

 cultivation of the seed. By the application 

 of this care, the character of the article 

 raised may be modified almost at pleasure. 

 Until within a few years the /laf o?iio?i, hol- 

 low about the stem, has been preferred. 

 The thinner the handsomer. But it is now 

 understood, that the round, thick, plump on- 

 io7i, is preferable in many respects. It is 

 thought to yield better, and weigh heavier. 

 It is found to have a decided preference in 

 the market, commanding ten per cent more 

 in price. By selecting those of most desi- 

 rable form, which ripen the earliest, and 

 carefully setting them for seed, where they 

 will not be exposed to the impregnation of 

 the baser sorts, the quality has been mate- 

 rially changed and improved. These pe- 

 culiarities in the onion were first noticed in 

 this vicinity by JMr. Daniel Buxton. He 

 was careful to select in the field before the 

 crop was gathered, such onions as he pre- 

 ferred, and to preserve them for seed. 



By so doing, the seed which he raised 

 soon acquired a character superior to any 

 other. Many of those who had been accus- 

 tomed to raise their own seed in the ordi- 



