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<£{)t .farmer's jHouti)li) Visitor. 



face be mellow, finely pulverized, and clear of 

 stones or oilier impediments, to tlie free and un- 

 obstructed 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 usually practised. 

 Once ploughing only in the spring, and frequent 

 hanro wings, are practised. Before the ploughing, 

 the dressing is usually spread upon the surlace 

 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. 



Whether it would not be advantageous occa- 

 sionally 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 cultivators inclining to the 

 use of shallow ploughing only. There are some 

 facts tending to show, that occasional deep stir- 

 ring of the soil, does no barm 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 the soil to 

 the depth of ten or twelve inches. Possibly 

 there may be some other influence upon the soil 

 from the plant itself. Our belief 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 im- 

 pression 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 

 present year, a very superior growth of onions, 

 where green manure from the barn-yard was ap- 

 plied in the spring; but particular pains were 

 taken to subdivide and intermingle it with the 

 soil ; and to bush-harrow the land so thoroughly, 

 that very little of the manure was exposed upon 

 the surface. 



Muscle-bed is frequently used upon onion 

 land. A portion of this is deemed by some al- 

 most indispensable, We have known the con- 

 tinued use 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 the application of muscle- 

 bed many years in succession. The effect being 

 to harden the land, and make too much ot'a crust 

 about the surface. Without question the effect 

 of the muscle-bed is congenial to the growth of 

 the onion, giving those who live in the vicinity 

 of rivers where it is found, a special advantage 

 over those who are remote from it. 



Leached ashes are also a valuable manure in 

 the cultivation of the onion ; more so when 

 leached than before. All kinds of ashes are ad- 

 vantageously applied on onion laud. 



Compost manure made of meadow mud and 

 droppings from the cattle, we have known ad- 

 vantageously applied on onion fields; but we 

 have many doubts as to this being the best ap- 

 plication of this kind of manure. A more lively 

 ami quickly operating manure is. better for the 

 onion ; one that will give them all early start, 

 and advance them as fast at possible, in the first 

 part of the season. The utmost vigilance»ayd 

 activity is used by our cultivators in getting their 

 land ready, at an early period of the season, for 

 the reception of the seed. It is the first field la- 

 bor of the spring. The use of compost manure 

 will depend much upon the constituents of the 

 soil with which it is mixed. If the soil be a 

 sandy loam, with a porous sub-soil, the compost 

 will do tolerably well; but if it be a black soil, 

 with a clayey subsoil, such as are most of the 

 lands where onions are raised in this vicinity, 

 stable manure, or muscle-bed, or leached ashes, 

 or a mixture of these, will be a better applica- 

 tion. The quantity ordinarily applied annually, 

 is from four to five cords to the acre. Whatever 

 is applied, should be generously applied. It will 

 be vain to expect full crops of onions, without 

 full manuring'. When the manure is collected. 

 it is benefitted much by a free application of 

 elbow grease in its preparation. The cultivator 

 of the onion must work early and late, and in 

 good earnest. Nothing short of forcible and 



yho 



persevering labor will answer, INo man w 

 afraid of soiling his hands or the knees of his 

 trowsers will do to engage in this business. 

 Close work at the proper time, is the only sure 

 guarantee of a good crop. 



3. The raising and planting of the seed. 



In relation to the onion, as well as all other 

 vegetables, much care is necessary in the selec- 

 tion of the plants for seed, and the cultivation of 

 the seed. By the application of this care, the 

 character of the article raised may be modified, 

 almost at pleasure; Until within a few years, 

 the flat onion, hollow about the stem, has been 

 preferred. The thinner the handsomer. But it 

 is now understood that the round, thick, plump 

 onion is preferable in many respects. It is 

 thought to yield better, and weigh heavier. It is 

 found to have ti decided preference in the mar- 

 ket, commanding ten per cent, more in price. — 

 By selecting those of most desirable form, which 

 ripen the earliest, and carefully setting them for 

 seed, where they will not be exposed to the im- 

 pregnation of the baser sorts, the quality has been 

 materially changed and improved. These pecu- 

 liarities in the onion were first noticed in this 

 vicinity by Mr. Daniel Buxton, lie was careful 

 to select in the field before the crop was gather- 

 ed, such onions as he preferred, and lo preserve 

 them for seed. 



By so doing, the seed which he raised soon 

 acquired a character superior to any other. — 

 Many of those who had been accustomed to 

 raise their own seed in the ordinary way, laid it 

 aside, and purchased seed raised by Mr. Buxton, 

 and found their account in so doing. There are 

 three varieties of the onion raised in this vicini- 

 ty. The Silver-skin, the Red, and the White 

 onion. The Silver-skin is the predominant spe- 

 cies, and more cultivated than all others. The Red 

 is preferred by some, — sells better in some foreign 

 markets, but "does not yield so abundantly. The 

 White onion yields as well as either of the oth- 

 ers, is milder and preferable for immediate use ; 

 it will not keep as well, and is not fit for expor- 

 tation ; which is the principal use made of our 

 onions. 



The common drill machine is used for the 

 distribution of the seed. This admits of regu- 

 lation, so as to scatter it more or less thick ; and 

 in this there is room for the application of sound 

 judgment. The usual quantity sown is about 

 three pounds to an acre. As a general rule, we 

 should say, one pound of good seed was the 

 proper quantity for a quarter of ;m acre of land 

 of goorl quality well prepared. It is desirable to 

 have the seed planted as thick as they will grow 

 fairly, both to secure a full crop, and prevent the 

 onion growing too large. Onions from one to 

 two inches in diameter being preferred to those 

 of a larger size. The skilful cultivator carefully 

 looks after all these little incidents relating to his 

 crop. 



4. 



died uhilt 



The cure necessary to be 

 growing. 



flinch of the success of the crop depends on 

 this caie. At first the plant is extremely tender, 

 and requires to be handled with much caution. 

 Any derangement of the fibres or roots of the 

 young plant, is attended with prejudicial conse- 

 quences'", flinch attention is necessary lo prevent 

 weeds gaining the ascendancy ; and in eradicat- 

 ing the weeds. Want of due care in this is often 

 the cause of failure of a crop. We have known 

 the present season, a highly promising crop to be 

 injured twenty per cent, at least, by permitting 

 the weeds to remain unnoticed one week too 

 long. This is especially true when there has 

 been a want of clue rare in preventing the scat- 

 tering of the seeds of the weeds on the land in 

 the years preceding. Care should be taken, both 

 that no weeds shall ripen their seed upon the 

 land, and that no weed mivti shall be found in the 

 manure. In this respect warm stable manure, 

 muscle-bed and ashes have a <\<i\d<;t] superiority 

 over all oilier manures. Perhaps there is no 

 plant more liable lo be injured by weeds than 

 the onion. The fibres it sends out are very nu- 

 merous, minute, and tender; any fracture of any 

 of these necessarily impairs ihe perfection of the 

 plant. When the land is in proper condition, 

 two careful weedings are all that may be neces- 

 sary. The rest of the stirring of the ground that 

 may be required lo promote the growth, can he 

 done with the onion hoe ; an instrument special- 

 ly constructed for the purpose, moving on 



wheels, and adapted to the width of the rows 

 This hoe was invented by Mr. Joseph Bushhy of 

 Danvers, an intelligent and successful cultivator 

 of garden vegetables, about twenty-five years 

 ince; and was used by himself and neighbors 

 only for about ten years. It has now come into 

 general use, and saves much of back-aching 

 labor. The usual distance between the rows is 

 fourteen inches. This can be varied according 

 to the quality and condition of the soil. Keep- 

 ing the ground well stirred, loose anil free of 

 weeds, greatly facilitates the bottoming of the 

 onion. There is no plant that will better reward 

 diligent care in the cultivation. The entire dif- 

 ference between a bountiful crop, and no crop at 

 all, often depends on this. The old maxim, " a 

 stitch in time saves nine "applies with great 

 force in raising onions. 



5. The blights and injuries to which the crop 

 may be subject. "^ 



So Kir as we have observed, ihis crop is ascer- 

 tain as any other that is cultivated. We know 

 that onions will not grow without a reasonable 

 proportion of heat and moisture ; but we have 

 rarely, if ever known, an entire failure of the 

 crop, where due diligence has been used. There 

 are occasionally blights, the causes of which we 

 have not learned. The more prominent will be 

 noticed. 



Sometimes we have seen the plant covered 

 with a small insect or louse, that gives the top a 

 white or light colored aspect, and stops and stints 

 the growth. These make their appearance about 

 the lime the bottoming commences. We have 

 heard their appearance charged to the use of 

 muscle-bed, — but whether they are limited to 

 laud on which muscle-bed has been used, we 

 cannot say. We think not. We think they are 

 natural associates of the plant. The effect of them 

 is lo diminish the quantity, but not to materially 

 injure the quality of the vegetable. 



The crop is sometimes injured by a blue 

 mould that gathers on the tops, occasioned by 

 fogs, or an excess of moisture from frequent and 

 long continued rains. 



There is a worm or maggot, occasionally found 

 upon the onion plant, in the early stages of its 

 growth, causing it to turn yellow and die. This 

 insect will be found in the bulb, originating from 

 eggs laid upon the leaves, by a small ash colored 

 fly, the scientific name of which is said to be 

 Anlhomtjin ceparum. It comes to maturity in less 

 than a month ; so that there may be several gen- 

 erations in the course of the season. Their ap- 

 pearance in this vicinity is rare. Pulverized 

 charcoal and fire have been found the most ef- 

 fectual remedies against the ravages of this class 

 of depredators. 



The most annoying enemy of the onion is the 

 cut-worm, or grub-worm. It probably is the 

 same described by Dr. Harris, in his Report on 

 the Insects of Massachusetts, injurious to vege- 

 tation, page 324, there called ",/groiis devastator." 

 And in the 1st vol. of Silliman's Journal of Sci- 

 ence, " PhrtlaiHt noclua devastator;'' though Dr. 

 Harris does not mention ihe onion as among the 

 plants upon which it feeds; probably consider- 

 ing it, like tobacco, as ioo noisome lo be used by 

 any decently civilized being. They are said " to 

 seek their food in the night, or in cloudy weather, 

 and retire before sunrise into ihe ground, or be- 

 neath stones or any substance which can shelter 

 them from the rays of [lie sun ; here they re- 

 main coiled up during the day, except while de- 

 vouring their food, which they drag into their 

 places of concealment.'' The remedy for these 

 worms, suggested by our cultivators, corresponds 

 nearly with that proposed by Mr. Foote of Berk- 

 shire, "to catch them and pull their teeth out." 

 This being effectually done to all, their opera- 

 lions will be of a limited character. When this 

 is omitted, we have sometimes known whole 

 fields almost entirely cut down by these rapacious 

 devourers. They sweep clean where they go, 

 not suffering even the weeds or .any other herb- 

 age to flourish. They are more frequently found 

 on old ground than on new; and particularly 

 where the ground has been covered during the 

 winter with chick-weed or other vegetable sub- 

 stance, on which the eggs from which they origi- 

 nate may have been deposited. Hence a benefit 

 of clearing the ground of all vegetable matter or 

 other obstructions, in the autumn after the crop 

 is gathered. This clearing also facilitates the 

 early planting in the spring. Autumnal plough- 



