ESSAY ON ONIONS. 90 



after the same was well saturated Avith manure^ muscle led or ashes. 

 A good substratum must be laid before a good crop can be expected ; 

 and this being done, a crop maj be expected on almost any soil, that 

 will support other vegetables. 



If we were asked, what course is best to be pursued with land, on 

 which onions have never been raised, to bring it into a condition for 

 a successful cultivation of the crop ; we should saj, begin by plough- 

 ing to the full depth of the nutritive soil, and during the first and 

 second years, thoroughly subdue and mellow the soil by the cultiva- 

 tion of crops of corn and carrots, with liberal dressings of manure ; 

 then thoroughly incorporate with the soil a dressing of strong ma- 

 nure, and muscle bed, just covering this dressing ; then harrow the 

 surface thoroughly, and clear it of all roots, weeds, or other obstruc- 

 tions ; then apply a coating of lively, well rotted manure to the sur- 

 face and bush harrow it ; and then it will be in a condition to receive 

 the seed, which is to be inserted as soon as the opening of the Spring 

 will admit of its being done. 



We are aware that we make the raising of the onion dependant 

 upon severe labor and vigilant attention. We know that it can- 

 not be successfully done without these. But it is not labor lost. 

 No cultivation, within our observation, better repays for the labor 

 and incidental expenses. We have known, the present season, acres 

 that have yielded their owners, a net income of more than two hun. 

 dred dollars; and we know that a man with two boys, can well attend 

 to half a dozen acres of such cultivation. Surely, when as at pres- 

 ent, there is no limit to the demand for the article, and a ready cash 

 market, those who have acy^es and are willing to labor, need not be 

 in want of a fair compensation for their labor. 



As samples of the present years produce in the town of Danvers, 

 we state the following; that have come under our notice. 



Yielding an average of more than 500 bushels to the acre. 



