250 



Cultivation of Onions. 



Vol. XII. 



Cultiration of Onions> 



The cultivation of onions is in many sec- 

 tions an important business. In some parts 

 of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and other 

 places, they are raised in large quantities, 

 and disposed of both for house consumption 

 and for exportation. The following essay 

 was written by John W. Proctor, Esq., and 

 received a premium from the Essex (Mass.) 

 Agricultural Society. 



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 from any other product of the 

 soil. Products of so much value, and com- 

 manding so much attention, are fit subjects 

 of inquiry; and if there be any facts relat- 

 ing to their cultivation not generally known 

 it may be useful to have them brought for- 

 ward. 



In making these inquiries, our attention 

 has been directed almost entirely to practical 

 cultivators, without reference to scientific 

 treatises. Our intention being to tell their 

 etory, as near as possible, in their own way. 



We shall treat of the subject in the fol- 

 lowing 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. 



5. 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 indefi- 

 nite number of years. Instances of contin- 

 ued appropriation of the same pieces of land 

 to the growing of onions, for ten, fifteen, 

 twenty, and even tliirly years, have come to 

 our knowledge. It is the opinion of many 

 that the crop is better, after the land has 

 been thus used a ^qvj 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. Tliis is certain, that 

 the qualities of the soil necessary for the 

 production of good crops are not exhausted 

 by continued cultivation. 



Rarely, if ever, have we known tlie onion 

 sowed upon the turf wlien first turned over. 

 It is usual to subdue and pulverize the soil, 

 by the cultivation of corn, or some other 

 crop. Not unfrequently the first year with 

 c rn, the second with carrots, and afterwards 



with onions. It is important, before the seed 

 is sown, that the surface be mellow, finely 

 pulverized, and clear of stones or other im- 

 pediments, to the free and unobstructed use 

 of the machine for this purpose. The finer 

 and more uniformly mellow the surface is 

 made, the better. Shallow ploughing, say 

 from four to six inches deep, is usaally prac- 

 ticed. Once ploughing only in the spring, 

 and frequent harrowings, are practiced. Be- 

 fore the ploughing, the dressing is usually 

 spread upon the surface of the field, so as to 

 be covered or intermixed in the furrow. The 

 mingling and subdivision of it, is effected by 

 the use of the harrow. 



VVhether it would not be advantageous 

 occasionally, to stir the land to the full depth 

 of the soil, is a point on which there is a 

 difference of opinion; most of the cultiva- 

 tors inclining to the use of shallow plough- 

 ing only. There are some facts tending to 

 shovv, that occasional deep stirring of the 

 soil does no harm to the onion crop, but on 

 the contrary is decidedly beneficial. As for 

 instance, onions do better where carrots have 

 grown the year preceding, than after any 

 other crop. The carrot necessarily starts 

 t'le soil to the depth often or twelve inches. 

 Possibly there may be some other influence 

 upon the soil from the plant itself Our be- 

 lief is, that the thorough and deep stirring 

 of it, is the principal preparatory benefit. 



2. The manure best adapted to promote 

 the growth. 



Any strong manure, well rotted and finely 

 subdivided will answer. But the general 

 impression seems to be, that manure from 

 stables, where the horses are freely fed with 

 grain, is the best; and that it should be at 

 least one year old, because it will not be 

 sufficiently rotten in a less time. All agree 

 that the dressing for the land should be kept 

 near the surface, well mixed, and as fine as 

 possible. Though we have seen the pre- 

 sent year a very superior growth of onions, 

 where green manure from the barn-yard 

 was applied in the spring; but particular 

 pains were taken to subdivide and intermin- 

 gle it with the soil ; and to bush-harrow the 

 land so thoroughly, that very little manure 

 was exposed upon the surface. 



Muscle-bed is frequently used upon onion 

 land. A portion of this is deemed by some 

 almost indispensable. We have known the 

 continued use of it for half a dozen years in 

 succession, even without other manures, with 

 a continuation of fair crops; but the general 

 impression is, that it will not do to repeat 

 tlie application of muscle-bed many years 

 in succession. The eflect being to harden 

 the land, and make too much of a crust 

 about the surface. Without question the 



