THE ONION ; ITS VARIETIES AND CULTIVATION. 129 



potash to the latter portion, and no difference could be seen in 

 the crop on the two parts. It used to be thought that onions 

 could be raised successfully for many years on the same ground, 

 and General Barrett of Concord, once showed me a piece of 

 ground where they had been raised about ninety years continu- 

 ously, but now we can get only a few crops off the same piece of 

 ground. A deep, strong soil is best ; it should have sufficient 

 moisture and be level or nearly so, else the wash of the land will 

 cover the jj'oung plants. 



As to varieties the European catalogues describe thirty or 

 more, which I have imported and tested, with the result that 

 there were only two or three of decent quality among them, the 

 great majority not being adapted to our climate. The Danvers 

 is mostly cultivated in New England. The Connecticut farmers 

 have run this variety thinner than it is grown here. The Cracker 

 is earlier and of fine quality, and will grow farther north than any 

 other. The Southport White Globe is very handsome, but requires 

 great care in curing not to become green ; after being pulled they 

 should be piled in heaps of two or three bushels each and covered 

 up or placed in siiry dark buildings six inches deep. The White 

 Pearl and New Queen are very nice for early bunching ; they come 

 a,long about as early as those raised from setts. In Connecticut 

 . the Red, White, and Yellow Southport are favorite varieties. 

 The Top onion is sometimes planted in August for May market- 

 ing. The Egyptian belongs to a distinct class ; it is of irregular 

 form, is planted in September, and starts early in the spring 

 — earlier than the weeds. They have to be planted but once. 

 Onion seed raised here is much better than foreign ; only about 

 fifty per cent of the latter will grow. Setts may be planted 

 about the middle of May, three inches apart ; they require very 

 rich manuring. 



In preparing the ground for onions, I recommend the use of a 

 gang plough, and Meeker harrow which does the work of raking 

 in half the time required to do it by hand ; the competition is such 

 that we must economize in every possible way. With the Monarch 

 pulverizer and Meeker harrow I have prepared three and a half 

 acres in four hours. The Meeker harrow consists of four series 

 of wheels, and will do the work of eighteen men ; it makes the 

 ground as fine as raking, but does not press down stones of any 

 size. 



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