AN ESSAY 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE ONION, 



BY JOHN W. PROCTOR, 

 OCTOBER., 1847. 



The culture of onions has increased so much, •within a few years, 

 in this vicinity, that it has become one of the staple products of the 

 , County. In the town of Danvers, more money is realized from the 

 sale of the onion, than any other product of the soil. Products of 

 so much value, and commanding so much attention, are fit subjects of 

 inquiry ; and if there be any facts relating to their cultivation not 

 generally known, it may be useful to have them brought forward. 



In making these inquiries, our attention has been directed almost 

 entirely to practical cultivators, without reference to scientific treati- 

 ses. Our intention being to tell their story, as near as possible, in 

 their own way. 



We shall treat of the subject in the following order: 



1. The preparation of the land. 



2. The manure best adapted to promote the growth. 



3. The raising and planting of the seed. 



4. The care necessary to be applied while growing. 



6. The blights and injuries to which the crop may be liable. 



6. The time and manner of harvesting. 



1. As to the preparation of the land. 



Differing from most other crops, the onion grows well, on the same 

 land for an indefinite number of years. Instances of continued ap- 

 propriation of the same pieces of land to the growing of onions, for 

 ten, fifteen, twenty, and even thirty years have come to our knowl- 

 edge. It is the opinion of many that the crop is better, after the 

 land has been thus used a few years, than at first. Whether this 

 arises from any influence of the crop upon the soil, or is the effect 

 of continued dressing of manures, we have no means of determining. 

 This is certain that the quaUties of the soil necessary for the produc- 

 tion of good crops are notjexhausted by continued cultivation. 



Rarely, if ever, have we known the onion sowed upon the turf 

 when first turned over. It is usual to subdue and pulverize the soil, 

 by the cultivation of corn, or some other crop. Not unfrequently 



