Onion Growing in the Connecticut Valley. 



LESLIE R. SMITH, HADLEY, IMASSACHUSETTS. 



In the past twenty years onion growing in the Connecticut 

 valley has grown from almost nothing to a money crop second 

 in importance only to tobacco. Acres that were formerly given 

 up to grass, corn and other general farm crops are now taken 

 up with this crop, which is successful both on the heavier and 

 lighter soils of the valley. The abundant Polish help is prob- 

 ably the one largest factor in bringing this about, and the 

 fact that onions can be grown with very little capital has given 

 many of these hard-working people a start toward prosperity. 

 The Polish are raising nearly all the onions in the valley to-day, 

 either on shares, by the acre, or on their own farms. Other 

 factors which have combined to make the crop very much of 

 a success are the ease with which the valley can be worked 

 by modern farm machinery, on account of its level nature 

 and freedom from stones; the system of storage houses that 

 has become a necessity to the handling of the crop; nearness 

 to the large market centers; and first-class shipping facilities. 



Without any great fanfare of trumpets, a system of co- 

 operation has grown up here in the onion business, very prac- 

 tical and very successful, which enables the man who owns the 

 land to do a profitable business only limited by the number of 

 acres that he has suitable for onion raising. This is what 

 makes it possible for an honest, industrious man without a cent 

 of capital to go into business for himself and to get a start 

 toward a home. This has happened here in the valley time 

 and time again. 



A farmer may have forty acres of onions being grown by a 

 dozen or more different men, each absolutely independent of 

 the other. By one plan the farmer will furnish the land and 

 the fertilizer, sometimes the team work and one-half the seed; 



