THE ONION IN JAMAICA. 



Climate and soil vary so much in Jamaica, and the island is so favourably situated for supplying 

 the fruit and vegetable markets of Canada and the Northern United States in winter and spring, that 

 every district could doubtless produce some paying crop. 



The Onion is the staple product of Bermuda, and His Excellency Sir H. A. Blake has directed 

 that it shall be tried in Jamaica. 



In Bermuda the seed is imported every year from the Canary Islands, and a supply is expected 

 immediately for the Botanical Department from Messrs. Hamilton & Co. of Teneriffe, obtained through 

 the medium of J. Hutton Dupuis, Esq., late H. B. M. Consul at that port. Some of the seeds will be 

 sown in the Gardens at Hope, Castleton and Cinchona, and small amounts will be distributed at cost 

 price to those who wish to try it in various districts and at different elevations. Excellent onions have 

 already been grown in St. Ann, by Mr. J. C. Stephens at Radnor in the Blue Mountains, and by Mr. 

 Palache, near Mandeville. 



There are two varieties grown in the Canary Islands, the white and the red. The white Onion 

 ripens sooner than the red, and therefore commands a better price. But as the white variety tends to 

 lose its character and become red, except in the Island of Palma, the seed is obtained only from there, 

 and is more than double the price of the red. 



Mr Peter Henderson, Seed Merchant, New York, estimates the profit per acre as follows : — 



" The average product of the Onion crop varies very much, ranging from 300 to 900 bushels per 

 acre, the mean being about 600 bushels per acre. The price is variable like all perishable commodi- 

 ties, ranging from fifty cents per bushel, the price at which they usually wholesale in the New York 

 market in fall, to $1 or $1.50 per bushel for winter and spring prices. The estimate, then, of profit 

 per acre may be given about as follows : — 



Manure per acre ... ... $ 72.00 



Ploughing, weeding, and harvesting crop, per acre ... 100.00 

 61bs. Seed, average $2 per lb. ... ... 12.00 



Rent or interest on land, per acre ... 9.00 



Marketing crop, per acre ... ... 7.00 



$200.00 



600 bushels per acre, at 50c. ... ... $300.00 



Cost ... ... 200.00 



Profit ... ... $100.00 



This estimate is a moderate one ; for if the crop is sold in spring, the chances are that the profit 

 may be two or three times as much." 



Sir F. von Mueller, Government Botanist of Victoria, thus speaks of its successful culture in Aus- 

 tralia : — " The Onion, is a native of Turkestan, succeeds even in equatorial countries, maturing seed, fit 

 to germinate, in the hottest desert-regions of Central Australia. As much as 20 tons of Onions have 

 been harvested from an acre of land in the Bellarine district of Port Phillip. The import into the 

 United Kingdom in 1884 represented £552,000. The export from Victoria during 1837 came to 6,036 

 tons, valued at £33,482." 



The following notes may possibly be some guide to those who think of growing Onions : — 



Soil. — A well drained soil is necessary ; it should be light rather than heavy, though the latter is 

 more suitable when the climate is very dry. A rich loam is the best soil, and the ground should be as 

 level as possible, so that the Onions shall not be washed out by rains. 



Rotation of Crops. — Onions should not be grown in the same spot for two successive years, but alter- 

 nated with some other crop, such as corn or potatoes. 



Manure. — Well rotted stable manure is better than any artificial manure, the sweepings of poultry 

 and pigeon houses, and bat- manure are very useful; night soil well mixed with dry earth, or lime, or 

 ashes, may be used with greater advantage. It should be dug or ploughed in 5 or 6 inches deep before 

 sowing. It is an excellent plan to collect weeds and bush into a heap, burn them and scatter the 

 ashes over the soil before digging or ploughing. 



Preparation of Ground. — Whatever the nature of the soil, it is indispensable that it should be 

 broken up fine. The ground must be dug over with a fork or spade, and then the surface made as 

 smooth and level as possible by raking. It may be rolled, as Onions form best bulbs in firm ground. 

 For cultivation on a large scale, it will be necessary to plough and harrow. After harrowing, it is re- 

 commended by Peter Henderson that the surface should be further levelled with some kind of "smoothing 

 harrow" such as Meeker's Smoothing Disc Harrow, in which the revolving discs pulverise the soil to a 

 depth of three inches much better than it can be done by raking, and the smoothing board which follows 

 in the wake of the revolving wheels, makes the surface, if free from stones, smooth as a board, and far 

 better than it can be done by raking. 



Sowing the Seed. — In the Canary Islands, the seed is sown broadcast in October, and the seedlings 

 transplanted in December during light rains, but transplanting weakens the plants for a time, and if 

 there is dry weather, it is almost fatal. It is much better to sow by means of a drill, and afterwards 

 thin out. In sowing the first row, a line should be stretched. The distance between the rows varies, 



