ONION SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION. 67 



Extent of Industry. 



In 1905 (the latest statistics available) the number of growers in the 

 valley was 850, and the number of bushels grown was 782,860, making 

 an average production of 925 bushels per grower. Ten years before, in 

 1895, there were but 372 growers raising 310,309 bushels, representing 

 856 bushels per grower. 



Methods of Culture. 



Under very favorable conditions with proper fertilization, tracts of 

 land may be continuously cropped with onions, but it seems better, and 

 in some sections of the valley absolutely necessary, to practice some system 

 of crop rotation. This will often prevent the land from becoming in- 

 fested with disease and insect enemies. 



The methods of fitting land for onions vary somewhat with the charac- 

 ter of the soil, the locality and the season. As a rule, Connecticut Vallej'' 

 growers plow in the autumn, but defer it as late as possible. Fall plowing 

 is especially desirable, because the ground can be work6d earlier in the 

 spring, and, in this section, it is necessary to get the seed and sets into 

 the ground at the earliest possible date. 



For surface fitting in the spring, a disk harrow or plow is used for break- 

 ing up the soil. This is followed by an Acme harrow or any device which 

 will thorouglily pulverize the surface. To give the final smoothing to the 

 soil before planting, a device called the Meeker harrow is used. This 

 consists of four rows of small disks set in a rectangular wooden frame, 

 two rows at either end. Across the middle of the framework is fastened 

 a board tilted slightly from its vertical position for the purpose of smooth- 

 ing the ground. The harrowing, disking, rolling and dragging are con- 

 tinued until the soil is smooth and mellow to a depth of 4 or 5 inches. 

 Usually not less than a full day's labor of man and team is required to 

 prepare an acre of onion land for seeding. 



The return per acre justifies the grower in using a large quantity of 

 high-grade fertilizer. In the Connecticut Valley where stable manure is 

 not very plentiful growers resort almost wholly to commercial fertilizers. 

 Some growers find it desirable to purchase the ingredients and mix their 

 own chemicals, but the majority use ready-mixed fertilizers. No general 

 formula can be given, because the natural character and needs of the soil, 

 together with its previous treatment, are the only safe guides as to pro- 

 portions and quantity. The average cost per ton through the valley in 

 1914 was $33.92, and the average application, 3,000 pounds to the acre. 

 Successful growers advocate applying fertilizer early in the spring, so that 

 it may be thoroughly incorporated with the soil by the various fitting 

 operations. 



Seed and Sets. 



Connecticut Valley onions are propagated both from sets and from 

 seed. Sets are small onions produced from seed thickly sown in com- 

 paratively poor soil. These small onions are planted the following spring 



