ESSEX SOCIETY. 31 



onions, as fair as I have ever seen — with few small ones or 

 skillions to be thrown out. They now sell readily at half a 

 dollar a bushel, cash payment. Last winter, they advanced to 

 nearly double the autumnal price. 



I have given a statement of all my fields of onions, without 

 any selection of pieces, — the same having been cultivated with- 

 out any extra care, or intention of publication. We in Danvers 

 think we have made great improvements in the cultivation of 

 this crop within a few years, and have been willing to continue 

 them among ourselves. But still, I do not hesitate to state the 

 facts just as they are; and if any one is willing to follow this 

 mode of cultivation, and work as hard as I have done, I cannot 

 doubt he will find a fair reward for his labor. 



Danvers, September 25th, 1847. 



Aaron C. Proctors Statement. 



At the request of my brother, I present a statement of my cul- 

 tivation of onions for five years past. I do this, not pretending 

 to any superior knowledge, for I am a novice in the business, 

 nor to any extraordinary crops ; but to show by what steps I 

 have advanced, and enable others to guard against my errors. 



In 1S43, 1 appropriated half an acre of flat land to this use — 

 the soil a sandy loam of fair quality. The land had been plant- 

 ed with carrots and beets the preceding year. I put upon it two 

 and a half cords of stable manure, and a leach of ashes. Ploughed 

 in the manure — ploughing about five inches deep. Weeded 

 twice thoroughly, and once after haying. Raised two hundred 

 and fifty bushels. On the carrot ground, there was one quarter 

 part more onions than on the beet ground ; and they came for- 

 ward earlier and fairer. 



In 1844, I cultivated the same piece of ground, and applied 

 about the same manure. Weeded twice, and used the onion 

 hoe in clearing the weeds ; found this to relieve the severity of 

 the labor. Sold, from the lot, three hundred bushels at half a 



