8 



The growers all know that there must be no shortage of 

 plant food for the crop. The up-to-date farmer understands 

 that his overhead charges are fixed, that is, he has to stand the 

 expense of plowing, fitting, cultivating and harvesting; that 

 the cost is about the same whether an average crop is grown 

 or a bumper crop, and that up to a certain point the profit 

 increases with the increased yield; so it is a vital error of 

 judgment to hazard chances of a profit by being "pennywuse 

 and pound foolish" in skimping the fertilizer. The Connecti- 

 cut valley grower sows one and one-half tons of fertilizer to 

 the acre, and is not at all backward about putting on an extra 

 half ton if he thinks that it is necessary. This is usually 

 applied at one time, but some large growers are trying the 

 experiment of keeping one-half ton to apply in mid-season. 



After the fertilizer is applied there is probably no better tool 

 to use in harrowing it in than the Acme harrow, and after all 

 is done that can be done with this or similar tools there is 

 nothing that will put on the finishing touch and leave the land 

 in as nice a condition for sowing the seed as the Meeker smooth- 

 ing harrow. This implement was born with the onion industry 

 and increases in popularity yearly. 



Sowing of the Seed. 

 Good seed is important, so important that fortunate indeed 

 is the grower who (regardless of price) has purchased a really 

 first-class seed. Southport Globe is the variety most com- 

 monly used, and the growers are very particular in regard to 

 it, often purchasing subject to a germination test at the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural College, and in a great many cases 

 having the seed "blown" at the college. This process consists 

 in running the seed through a machine with a bellows attach- 

 ment that will blow the dirt and the small light seeds out. The 

 amount varies from 5 to 6 pounds per acre. Either of these 

 amounts would be too much if every seed matured, but all do 

 not sprout; the onion maggot gets some, and more are cut out 

 from time to time in the process of hoeing and weeding through- 

 out the season. The rows are sown either 12 or 14 inches apart, 

 and there are a number of seeding machines on the market, 

 both single and double row, that do satisfactory work. 



