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FARM, ORCHARD, DAIRY AND GARDEN. 



grass; indeed, no kind of grain seems 

 better qualified by nature for foraging 

 upon grass land than oats ; as a full crop 

 is usually obtained in the first instance, 

 and the land left in good order for the 

 succeeding crops. 



ONION, Culture of. — The onion is 

 classed among the hardy vegetables, and, 

 in fact, is one of the hardiest of the hardy. 



It would be well to have the land 

 plowed, cross-plowed and harrowed in 

 the fall; and then in the spring, just as 

 soon as it is possible for the ground to be 

 worked, plow, cross -plow and harrow 

 thoroughly once more. 



Should your ground not have been 

 plowed in the fall, give it as thorough 

 plowing, cross-plowing and harrowing as 

 you possibly can, early in the spring, 

 breaking it into fine particles so as to 

 leave no clods. 



A sandy, alluvial soil is the best ; but 

 any rich loam, well manured, will answer. 

 At all times a new soil is much the best, 

 as the onions grow much more rapidly, 

 and are less troubled with weeds. 



Sow just as soon as the land can be got 

 into good condition, in drills sixteen 

 inches apart, and from half an inch to an 

 inch in depth. 



The Large Red Annual Onion, or 

 Wethersfield Red, as it is generally called, 

 is most likely to produce a good crop. 

 Another variety, known as the Early Red, 

 will mature perhaps a week in advance 

 of the Large Red, but will not produce as 

 large an onion. The yellow and white 

 onions will not produce with us the full- 

 sized onion the first year, but require first 

 to have the seed sown thickly to produce 

 what are known as the "sets." These 

 " sets " are kept over winter, planted out 

 in the spring, and then produce the large 

 onion. The "sets" known as Yellow 

 and White can be procured at any seed- 

 store. 



It will take five pounds of seed, if sown 

 by hand, and four pounds, if sown with a 

 good seed-drill, per acre. 



When the plants are three to four inches 

 high, thin out to a distance of two inches 

 apart. Keep clear of weeds. In culti- 

 vating, be careful not to stir the soil too 

 deep, nor collect it about the growing 

 bulb. A top-dressing of wood-ashes would 

 be found very beneficial after the second 

 weeding, and would soon be observed in 



the increased health and color of the 

 plants. 



Should there be any stiff-necked or 

 scullions in the patch, roll the whole bed 

 with a moderately light drum-roller. This 

 will cause the necks or outgrowth to settle 

 back in the bulb. 



Gather when the tops are wilted and 

 dried. Let them lie a day or two on the 

 ground to dry ; then top and remove to a 

 cool place to keep for future use. 



A cool, dry season is best to bring 

 them to perfection. Hog manure, ap- 

 plied in the fall, and well plowed in, will 

 be found one of the most beneficial for 

 this crop. The onion, unlike other crops, 

 can be grown in a constant succession, 

 without the least deterioration on the 

 same ground for a number of years. 



ONION, Blight and Smut.— The onion- 

 blight and smut is at times very destruc- 

 tive to the onion crop, turning the most 

 promising fields in a few days to scenes 

 of desolation, which is caused, in my 

 opinion, by a parasitic plant, growing 

 upon and consuming the vitality of the 

 onion. The onion-smut so impregnates 

 the land with its spores as to render it un- 

 safe to plant onions for several years on 

 land thus affected. White blight comes 

 upon the crop at the period of its most 

 vigorous growth, in a dry time, showing 

 its effect perhaps in a small spot at first, 

 but, in case the dry atmosphere continues, 

 rapidly spreading over the whole field. 

 Two or three days give sufficient time to 

 stop entirely all future growth of the crop, 

 unless a change in the weather occurs un- 

 favorable to the growth of the parasite. 



In many localities rank weeds might be 

 procured in great abundance on fields in-s 

 tested by the fungi (on the field alluded 

 to, weeds three feet in height grew in pro- 

 fusion); were they cut down, sun-dried, 

 spread over the field, and with them, 

 brushwood and all useless materials found 

 about the farm burned, the surtace-spores, 

 and all germs of a parasitic life within 

 reach would be consumed, and caustiq 

 potash, lime and charcoal would be liber- 

 ated and diffused over the field for the 

 benefit of the succeeding crops. 



PARASITES, to Destroy. — The best 

 and simplest, as well as the safest, wash 

 to destroy fleas, mites, itch-insects, mange 

 acari, and all external parasites of men 

 and animals (and probably the mange in 



