NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



257 



New Plants from Guatemala {Bot. Gaz. vol. xlviii. pp. 294- 

 300; October 1909). — Mr. John Donnell Smith describes new species 

 of Pithecolobium, Appunia, Palicoiirea, Paratliesis, Gonolohus, Tricho- 

 stelma, Solanum, Athenaea, Brachistus, RuelUa (two sp.), Pseuder- 

 anihemiim, DiclipUra, and Justicia. — G. F. S.-E. 



Onion Culture. By W. E. Beattie {U.S.A. Dep. Agr. Farmers' 

 Bull., April 1909, 354). — In the Gulf Coast States onions are largely 

 grown, the principal varieties being the Bermuda, Egyptian, and 

 Spanish. The cost of growing these onions is higher than the ordinary 

 and hardier kinds. An acre may cost on an average $80, not including 

 crates. The yield to the acre is about 300 bushels, and the profit, taking 

 one year with another, about $55. The more successful growers count 

 on a net profit about equal to the cost of growing the crop. Supply 

 equals demand at present, but both are increasing. The following is 

 a good fertilizer for general use: — 



Sulphate of ammonia (25 per cent.) ... ... 2001b. 



Acid phosphate ... ... 800 ,, 



Muriate of potash (50 percent.) ... ... 400 



C. H, L. 



Onions from Seed. By J. Troop and C. G. Woodbury {U.S.A. 

 Exp. Stn. Purdue, Circ. 15; illus.). — Between 3,000 and 5,000 acres 

 are devoted in Northern Indiana to growing onions from seed. They 

 are principally grown in " muck " land — i.e. drained swamp — which 

 is 3 to 8 feet deep, fine and black. It is rich in nitrogen and deficient 

 in potash. The use of farmyard manure tends to encourage the onion- 

 maggot; therefore an artificial fertilizer is preferable. The following is 

 recommended : — ■ 



with later dressings of nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia 

 (Voorhees). 



Some of the fertilizer should be placed under the seed in the rows, 

 the remainder broadcast, or between the rows. The great necessity in 

 onion-growing is to keep ahead of the weeds. Hand-weeding essential, 

 but expensive. 



The cost of growing averages about $75 an acre from beginning to 

 end. 



The yield, with a fair season and good care, is about 800 bushels 

 an acre. 



The profit about $100 to $250 an acre. As one large grower 

 expressed it, " It takes nerve and money to grow onions." 



VOL. XXXVI. s 



Dried blood 

 Cotton-seed meal 



300 „ 

 300 



1,000 lb. to the acre, containing — ■ 



5 per cent, nitrogen, 



6 per cent, phosphoric acid, 

 10 per cent, potash, 



