THE LEADING QUESTION. 13 



obtain a somewhat larger price for your crop, or part of 

 your crop, than the average grower usually receives, I am 

 sure it would be folly to build your estimates of profit on 

 any such uncertain basis. 



Onion-growing must not be looked upon as a specula- 

 tion, nor as a means of acquiring sudden wealth. If this 

 is what you have in mind, failure will be pretty well 

 assured. 



In this respect, the business resembles similar enterprises, 

 such as fruit-growing, general gardening, poultry-keeping, 

 etc. Some of our smart young people often see ''golden 

 opportunities" in the hen business. They figure, quite 

 plausibly, as follows : "It costs about $i to keep one hen a 

 year. She will lay in that time 150 eggs, which at the low 

 average price of 16 cents a dozen bring ^2, or a clear profit 

 of ^[. Now, keep a .thousand hens, and you have a sure 

 yearly income of ^1000." Perhaps this figuring is faultless ; 

 but if the hen of the future is not built materially different 

 from the hen of the past, she will, when thus kept in large 

 numbers, invariably refuse to perform the task assigned to 

 her, but rather content herself with an annual lay of 75 or 

 So eggs. 



Does onion growing pay ? 



In reply let me ask : Does it pay to grow wheat, or pota- 

 toes, or strawberries ? Does dairying, or sheep husbandry, 

 or cattle raising pay ? 



Some people make these things pay, and others do not. 

 The great majority of those who engage in any one of 

 them, and stick to it, as a life-business, make their living 

 by it, but seldom much more. Those who go in and after 

 the first unsuccessful attempt drop out again, are sure to 

 lose. The few, however, who by accident or selection of 

 their own are working under favorable- conditions, v/ho 

 keep abreast of the times, and manage with skill and good 



