264 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



diluted 1 gallon to 50 of water and applied at the time of 

 sowing the seed. A 2-gallon tank is attached to the seed sower 

 with a small hose or lead pipe running down under it and 

 running a small stream of the mixture directly into the seed. 



Irrigation. 



Up and down the valley are different growers who are ex- 

 perimenting with irrigation on the onion fields, and so far re- 

 ports are favorable. This will obviate the trouble of the seed 

 and fertilizer blowing off in the spring, and is believed to be 

 a remedy for the thrips; but most important of all is the fact 

 that the grower who irrigates can control the supply of mois- 

 ture and so increase his crop. The system used is the overhead 

 one, and the cost of installation will range from $150 to $200 

 per acre, depending on the area and the amount of labor that 

 the grower can do or furnish. Instances will be found where 

 absolutely reliable men say that the system has paid for 

 itself the first year. 



Cost of Growing. 



It is comparatively easy to figure the cost of raising native 

 onions. The crop should be charged with whatever equally 

 good land could be rented for; then there is the cost of plowing, 

 fitting, etc., depending on how much time is put on the field. 

 Fertilizing will cost from $50 to $60 per acre, seed from $5 to 

 $12 per acre, hand labor from $65 to $90 per acre, and if there 

 is trouble with smut there is the cost of the formaldehyde. 

 Sacks are usually furnished by the buyer. 



A man who understands his business can care for three acres 

 of onions, and if he has a family with children will do more by 

 occasionally hiring a few days' help. As stated before, plenty 

 of our thrifty Polish farmers have made their start this way, 

 but they work and work hard, believing that "seed time and 

 harvest will never fail." And in the majority of cases they 

 win out. 



