MISCELLANEOUS. 545 



exposure to the action of the atmosphere. Most of our black prairie soils are 

 suitable to the production of onions if they are rightly treated. The turf must 

 become entirely rotted and mixed with the earth below. Land that has been in 

 pasture for several years is easily prepared for a crop of onions, as the turf Is 

 comparatively thin, while the soil is quite free from weeds. That portion of a 

 pasture on which cattle and sheep lie at night may be converted into an onion- 

 patch to excellent advantage. 



"A field for onions should be very nearly level. If there are elevations in 

 it, the soil on them will be likely to wash away, carrying off the seed before it 

 germinates, or leaving part of the onions exposed to the sun. A piece of land 

 intended for onions should be entirely free from the seeds of weeds in the start, 

 and there should be a determination on the part of the grower to allow none to 

 attain any considerable size. Absolutely clean culture is essential to producing 

 a paying crop. Neglect in this matter will cause a vast amount of work, which 

 will not, after all, insure a good crop. A field of onions cannot be neglected 

 on account of a demand for. labor on other parts of a farm. Unless a farmer 

 has help that can attend to his field of onions during the season of plowing 

 corn, cutting grass and harvesting grains, it will be better not to attempt to 

 raise the crop at all. The care of onions, however, calls for light work, which 

 may be chiefly performed by old men, partial invalids, women and children. 

 Persons who cannot perform heavy work on the farm may engage in onion- 

 raising to excellent advantage. 



" It is useless to undertake to raise a paying crop of onions on land that is 

 not very highly manured. From 30 to 50 loads of manure should be applied to 

 an acre of land designed for producing this crop. It should be well rotted and 

 free from the seed of grass and weeds. Unleached ashes form a valuable addi- 

 tion to composted stable manure. After a piece of land has been prepared for 

 onions it is best to continue the crop for a series of years. As onions are gross 

 feeders, it will, of course, be necessary to apply a coating of manure every 

 season. The soil of an onion-field should be well pulverized and the manure 

 thoroughly incorporated with it. After it is plowed and harrowed a roUer 

 should be employed for crushing the lumps. 



" Many growers employ a hand-rake for fining the soil before the seed is 

 sown. About 4 lbs. of seed are required for an acre. It should be the product 

 of the previous season. [I would never use old seed.] The seed may be tested 

 by counting out a certain number and placing them on some moist cotton l^d 

 in a saucer. If good, it will germinate in 3 or 4 days. The seed should be 

 sown as early in the spring as it is possible to prepare the land. Growers who 

 aim to get the largest yield from a given amount of land allow only the space 

 of a foot between the rows. There is a drill which plants two rows of onion 

 seed at once. If sown by hand one seed should be dropped every inch. In 

 order to mark the rows it is well to drop a radish seed every 5 or 6 inches 

 [merely to point out the row so you can cultivate varieties]. The radishes will 

 grow very rapidly, and will be large enough to pull before the onions attain 

 sufficient size to be injured by their presence. If there is no market for rad- 

 ishes in the vicinity, cabbage plants may be raised in tlieir place. When of 

 eufiicient size they may be pulled and transplanted. 



