64 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 169. 



industry alone, the percentage of tenants is much greater than the ratio 

 of tenants to all farms. Most of the tenant farms are operated by immi- 

 grant families, the women and children doing much of the hand labor 

 required for growing the crop. Very little capital is necessary to grow 

 onions on shares, which makes this form of tenure attractive to foreigners 

 with small means or large families. 



Two general types of tenancy are found in the valley. The one may 

 be called share rental and the other cash rental. The terms of share 

 rental may vary widely, but the rent is usually half the crop. Under this 



TEN/lNCY IN TRflNKUlN , HAMPDEN HND HHMPS H IRE COUNTIES 1880- IP/o. 

 I880 



lesol 



icjool 

 IS lol 



> 20 -JO "fo So to 70 eo 90 100 'L 



Share Ten«nts. 



Fig. 15. 



form the owner pays for the fertilizer and frequently for half the seed, 

 in addition to supplying all the machinery and all the labor necessary to 

 prepare the seed bed. He also hauls his share of the onions to market. 

 All that the renter furnishes is his share of the seed wliich he may buy on 

 credit, and the labor required to grow and harvest the crop which calls 

 for a very few inexpensive tools. 



The cash rent paid for the most desirable onion land varies from $30 to 

 •150 per acre. Under this form the landowner furnishes nothing but the 

 land. The cash tenant requires some capital; generally, however, he 

 experiences little difficulty in buying his seed and fertilizers on credit. 

 By beginning as laborers and taking advantage of these forms of tenure 

 many enterprising immigrants, especially Poles, have been able to save 

 enough to become farm owners. 



Soils and Climatic Conditions. 

 Onions may be grown successfully under a wide range of climatic and 

 soil conditions. During the early stages, however, cool weather and a 

 good deal of moisture are essential. Later, a reasonable degree of heat, 

 together with a dry soil and atmosphere, are needed for the ripening and 

 proper curing of the bulb. The climatic data shown in Tables I and II 

 are illuminating. 



