SECRETARY'S REPORT. 195 



gathered, and the condition of success in keeping it is said to 

 be a low, dry temperature, but without frost. 



Tlie cost of raising varies in different localities. The price 

 of manures, of labor, and the character of the land, both as 

 regards foulness and natural fertility, are things that will affect 

 very much any estimate we may make. Our own experiments 

 in a small way the past season, show a footing up of some two 

 hundred dollars per acre, besides rent of land. This, owing to 

 enhanced prices, is about double what it was four years ago. 

 Of this sum about one hundred, or at that rate, was paid for 

 seed and fertilizers. This is probably more than usual. One 

 of the largest growers in this region, estifuates the average 

 expense this year, including manures and rent of land, at 

 two hundred dollars. The produce varies still more than the 

 expense, ranging from complete failure, up to eight or ten hun- 

 dred bushels to the acre, according to the skill of the cultivator 

 *and the freedom of the crop from its usual casualties. 



It is well known that its most formidable enemy is the 

 maggot. So serious have become its depredations that in some 

 regions where the onion was once the staple crop, its cultiva- 

 tion has been nearly abandoned. No prevention has been 

 found, but the best chance for avoiding the evil seems to lie 

 in taking up new lands. The objection to this is that the first 

 crop is likely to be imperfect, having a large proportion of 

 scullions. 



We would suggest as a remedy for this, and as enhancing the 

 chances of success, a thorough rolling of the ground both 

 before and after sowing, and if the last can be done by a hand 

 roller, so much the better, as the feet of teams are very apt to 

 press in a part of the seed too deeply, causing it to come up 

 unequally, and impeding cultivation. 



We have thus endeavored, in as few words as possible, to 

 point out the best methods in the cultivation of this important 

 esculent. At present prices, it is certainly equal to the 

 tobacco crop in point of profit, and certainly exceeds it in that 

 of utility. We have almost a guarantee that it shall not 

 become a drug, in the fact, that as a winter vegetable it 

 cannot be raised in southern latitudes ; consequently it becomes 

 an article of export, and takes its place as one of our staple 

 productions. 



