, *^^r- 



1861. 



THE ILLINOIS FAEMER. 



6 



4th. If winter wheat is not at hand, we seed 

 with barley. Though oats are sown much earlier 

 than barley, we still prefer the latter because it 

 shades the ground less and occupies it for a 

 short (ime. Winter barley is liked the best, be- 

 cause it ripens first among our cereals. Spring 

 wheat is very seldom cultivated with us. 



Now, Mr.' Editor, I will close, in order to ful- 

 fill, at least partially, one of my suggestions. 



Remarks. — We shall be pleased to hear 

 from our German friend at any time, as we 

 know that he is one of the practical men. 

 One who took his first lessons in western 

 farming as a common hand by the month, 

 such are the men that will add value to our 

 lands, and who will build up the west. They 

 are no carpet knights, who, with a smatter- 

 ing of green fields, write of farming, but 

 men with labor calloused hands wield the 

 pen to enlighten their fellow-laborer. 



Ed. 



The Culture of the Onion. 



We promised in our last to pay more at- 

 tention to the garden in this number, and 

 we hope that our readers will profit by it. 

 On the subject of onion culture, we shall 

 extract largely from essays by onion growers 

 in various parts of the country selecting 

 such as are adapted to our use : 



Selection op Ground. — A deep loam 

 is considered the best for onions though 

 they will grow on soil a large proportion of 

 which is clay. A light porous soil with a 

 gravelly subsoil should be avoided. The 

 surface of the ground should be nearly level, 

 as hilly ground is liable to wash from heavy 

 rains. In selecting a piece of ground for 

 onions, there are several things that should 

 be considered : 



1st Ground that is overrun by weeds and 

 troublesome grasses, should not be chosen 

 until they are first subdued. 



2d. Ground that is shaded will not do; 

 neither that which is too wet to be worked 

 early in the spring. 



Having attended to the foregoing hints, 

 it is also important to select with reference ' should sink when placed in water. Better 



to cultivating the same ground for onions 

 for an indefinite length of time, for in so 

 doing, the labor of first preparation is abol- 

 ished ; besides, each succeeding crop is 

 more easily cultivated, provided the previous 

 work has been thoroughly done. 



Preparation of Ground for Sowing. 

 Having: made a suitable selection of sround, 

 the next thing to be considered is its pre- 

 paration. In the next place give the ground 

 a heavy coating of manure. Hog pen is the 

 best home made manure ; next stable, if not 

 too coarse ; next common barn-yard, if well 

 rotted. As to the quantity of manure on 

 the acre, that must be determined in part by 

 the condition of the soil. From twenty to 

 thirty loads of forty bushels per load, make 

 a very good cost to begin with. But take 

 care not to use seedy maoure if you wish to 

 save much labor and patience. Manure may 

 be carted on and plowed under in the fall, 

 or in the spring, just before sowing. If the 

 ground is plowed in the fall, it will not be 

 necessary to replow in the spring. Fall 

 plowing should be puj ofi" as long as possible 

 — say to the middle of November. 



Having manured and plowed your ground 

 it is now to be harrowed and raked, until it 

 is as even and smooth as a beet bed. Har- 

 rows of either iron or wooden teeth are first 

 used to bring the ground to a general level. 

 The brush or bush-harrows are then used 

 until the lumps are pulverized, and the sur. 

 face of the ground made smooth, then wooden 

 hand rakes, of twelve teeth each are applied 

 to finish for sowing. 



Manure for top dressing may be harrov?ed 

 or raked in. All manure used should be 

 plowed under or mixed with the soil imme- 

 diately after it is spread. 



Sowing. — Now, then the seed is to be 

 committed to the ground. And here a word 

 or two of caution is necessary. Be careful 

 what seed is sown. If you are under the 

 necessity of buying seed, procure it of some 

 reliable man, a regular, honest onion-grower. 

 It shotild not be over one year old, and 



