* 
cdjiekt G^p. 
REPORT ON ONION CULTURE. 
Herman Glass recently made the follow¬ 
ing report of experiments in Onion Culture 
before the Monroe Co., N. Y., Farmers’ Club : 
A few years since he came in possession of 
a light, sandy soil so exhausted us to be un¬ 
productive. On the place were a few acres 
of muck land, but his neighbors tried to dis¬ 
courage him from attempting to do anything 
with muck. Notwithstanding, he had suc¬ 
ceeded in every crop he hud attempted to 
raise, excepting Ruta Baga, and Poachblow 
potatoes?. Had raised good crons of Early 
Rose and other potatoes with njPKl tops, but 
Peachblowa ran too much to vines. Had 
raised i 10 bushels of sound cars of corn per 
aero. The muck was from one to three ieet 
deep, underlaid with peat, and that with 
quicksand. No sand mixed with the muck. 
Timber that grew on the muck, soft maple, 
and elm. 
In 1869 he commenced with onc-fohrth of 
an acre of onions,—yield not given ; 1870, 
raised on one acre, 350 bushels ; 1871, on two 
and three-fourths acres, 1,030 bushels, aver¬ 
aging 375 bushels per acre ; 1373, ou five 
acres, 1,113 bushels, yielding 233 per aero ; 
1870, on five acres, 2,435 bushels, or 485 per 
acre. Of the crop of 1873 he sold, in fall, 
2,160 bushels, for $1,703.85, a little more than 
£3 cents per bushel, aud has 285 on hand, for 
which he can take $1.50 per bushel or $307.50 
for Hie lot, which would make the entire 
crop amount to $3,101.35, averaging ninety 
and one-third cents a bushel. 
The cost of fertilizers, seed and labor, be¬ 
fore harvesting, amounted to $315, or 13 
cents a bushel. Cost of harvesting 10 cents 
a bushel. Entire cost per bushel, in market, 
23 cents, making the crop net 67 cents a 
bushel, or $324,95 per acre. When the crop 
is ripe, rakes the onions out, lets them lie on 
land a few days, turning them two or three 
times to cure them ; then he has them top¬ 
ped, and spread out two or three feet deep, 
under u shed. Sows in rows fourteen to 
sixteen inches apart. His laud is thrown 
into beds, a rod in width, that the water may 
settle into the furrows between. Smartweed, 
purslane, and other weeds natural to muck 
land trouble him. Raise Yellow Damvrs 
and Rod Danvers, a round, red, solid onion. 
He finds unleached wood ashes his best fer¬ 
tilizer. Has tried several other fertilizers, 
but ashes proves best ou his muck land. To 
succeed in raising onions, must have the 
right soil, and be so Bituated os to be able to 
procure, cheap labor. Finds women, and 
even small girls, his most profitable laborers. 
Onions on sandy soil, in his neighborhood, 
were mostly destroyed by the onion maggot. 
He had spread sand upon a small piece of 
muck, aud the onions on the sand were de¬ 
stroyed by maggots, but noue affected those 
on muck. 
■ - ■ ■ -4 ♦ » — —- 
THE ROOT CROP, 
lx is dilatory in the extreme to put oil 
preparation for be eta, parsnips, carrots, &c. 
till spring; for the laud should have been 
well plowed early in the autumn and furrows 
or trenches made in any low spots so that 
water could not lie for ever so short a period 
on any portion. If, however, this lias not 
been done, and yet the roots are desired, the 
ground host adapted should be chosen now 
and on frosty dayB haul the manure, recol¬ 
lecting that every ton of good rich duDg will 
add a ton of roots; and if well cultivated 
this will hold true up to forty tons per acre.* 
I have grown roots in different States for 
nearly £0 years, and find that beets and pars¬ 
nips are the most certain and altogether best 
suited to the requirements of the general 
farmer. Carrots are equally good and stand 
drouth well; but on account of the weeding 
being more particulrrly essential to be done 
just at the right time and the great cost of 
labor, the others are preferred, for if there is 
any procrastination, this crop is often lost. 
Swedes do well North ; but there is more or 
less risk of them not bottoming well the 
farther they are tried South. 
Whoever grows roots, should by every 
means have all his plowing and planting of 
other crops in the earliest state ; it is neces¬ 
sary to look forward and contrive to have 
ample time to cultivate and plant the seed 
for roots when the soil is in nice, mellow con¬ 
dition ; for a thorough good tilth is of great 
oonsequence ; it is also of real importance to 
get the seed from an undoubted source. The 
drills should be at least 27 inches apart and 
the straighter the ridges and the drills are 
the nearer the oultivator can run and the less 
there will be to be done by hand. I generally 
roll down after the seed is in with a heavy | 
horse roller which widens the tops of the 
ridges, in fact nearly levels the ground, 
causing showers to Lave more effect and 
drouth is not so much felt. After cultivation 
aud thinning out by hand hoeing, the ground 
is quite even and the plants are relieved of 
the weeds by hoeing them into the middle, 
where the horse hoe or cultivator should be 
kept going every ten days at least. 
A Working Farmer. 
-♦♦♦- 
CASTOR OIL BEAN IN TEXAS. 
The castor oil bean is cultivated here in 
rows like corn ; but in this climate it. should 
be planted six feet apart, as they grow from 
ten to fifteen feet high aud of such strength 
that a large mun may climb up the branches 
five or six feet from the ground. The yield 
per acre, with fair cultivantion, ia from 40 to 
50 bushels. The price of the bean here is 
from $1.25 to $1.50 gold. The price of the oil 
is the current price in market. Stock will 
not cat the bean or cake made from it. It 
tnuy lie valuable for gas but it is only used 
as feed here, lu harvesting it is necessary 
to gather the beans before they arc ripe, aud 
spread them upon a smoothly-swept piece of 
ground surrounded by a board fence to pre¬ 
vent the beaus from Hying when the pods 
burst open. In making the oil the beans are 
ground into a paste, which is put into hair¬ 
cloth bags and pressed beneath strong scre ws 
and wedges. The first oil is known as 
“cold drawn.” The cake is then pressed 
bittnveen heated plates, and yields an inferior 
second product. 
Perhaps any of the cotton seed oil factories 
in Texas would buy the seed of the castor oil 
plant; but it is thought that it cannot be 
hauled any great distance and then shipped 
to other States at a profit. w. G. K. 
-♦ »» ■ - 
CASTOR BEANS IN ILLINOIS. 
In answer to an inquiry Dr. E. C. Blais- 
dei.l, Marion Co., III., writes to the Tribune : 
I will say that the yield of castor beans is 
about eight bushels per acre; they are 
planted about four feet apart, three in a hill; 
it takes about throe weeks for them to come 
up, and only one should be left to grow. 
They are cultivated the same as corn, and as 
soon as the burrs turn brown and begin to 
crack open, they are picked (generally by 
children) and taken to a smooth place and 
allowed to remain until they are free from 
the burrs, when they are gathered up, made 
clean by running through a fanning mill, 
sacked, and taken to market. They generally 
bring $1.25 to $1.50 per bushel. They are 
raised quite extensively in Southern Illinois: 
one man last year cultivated 40 acres. The 
first frost in the fall generally opens the 
burrs, after which they must be gathered 
immediately. 
--- 
FIELD NOTES. 
Alfalfa.— (Fred. Conant,) Alfalfa is not a 
grass; it belongs to the Pulse family of 
plants with clover. It is good to make milk, 
both in its green and cured state. It requires 
about 15 lbs. of seed per acre which may be 
bought at the seed stores at from 50 to 60 
cents per pound. We doubt if it will pay 
you to attempt to grow it in Massachusetts, 
although some experiments with it in Her¬ 
kimer Co., N. Y., are said to have proven 
satisfactory. We shall be glad to receive 
the practical experience of any one who has 
grown it in the latitude and climate of Mas¬ 
sachusetts. 
Wheal After Oafs.—Although 20 years 
ought to soften prejudice, 1 cannot see or 
hear of this kind of rotation without feeling 
it is most absurd. In England, oata on some 
land follow wheat; but there is an opinion 
among good farmers that two white straw 
crops should never succeed each other ; how¬ 
ever, as the measure in America is not used 
for the root crop as in England, its being ap¬ 
plied for wheat after oats gives a less stupid 
aspect to the following of wheat after oats. 
—A Working Farmer. 
When to Cut Timothy. —W. A. M., asks the 
best time to cut Timothy, saying some farm¬ 
ers object to cutting it when in bloom on ac¬ 
count of the flower being injurious to horses, 
giving them the heaves. We have had no 
such experience with Timothy cut in bloom ; 
but we prefer to cut it when the seed is in 
the milky state. What say our farmer 
readers i 
4 » ♦- 
Wile Not Lend the Borax*. — In a note 
requesting documents to aid in forming a 
elul>, Mrs. B. of Portage Co., Wis., writes us 
in this positive wise :—“ I cannot keep house 
without the Rural. My neighbors don’t 
like to subscribe wheu they can borrow,—but 
I will give them their choice, to subscribe or | 
go without it; for I will not lend the Rural, i 
Q$ai[m (Bcononti). 
DRAINS AND DRAINING. 
Commenting upon a paper read before the 
Central New York Farmers’ Club by Josiah 
Shull on Drainage, Mr. Harris Lewis is 
reported as saying: — Any soil on which 
water will stand two feet below the surface 
three days after an inch fall of rain, needs 
underdraining. These facts may be ascer¬ 
tained by digging pits to test the standing 
of the water. They may te dug like post¬ 
holes, and every one should dig them before 
beginning to drain. By means of them he 
can learn how far the drains already working 
drain his land. All our drains should be 
protected from the waste of surface water 
lengthwise of the drain. I differ from Mt\ 
Shull in the plan of cross-draining across a 
plane. I drain directly down the hill. lean 
avoid water standing between the perpen¬ 
dicular by putting in cross-seetionB emptying 
into the perpendicular drains, as shown by 
the letter “ V.’ I find this system to cut off 
the water. I find unless the stone I have are 
iu the way, and 1 am obliged to move them, 
I had better drain with tile than with stone. 
I have one stone drain which has been open 
nearly forty years, but it ia a marvel and not 
usual. I have other drains which will break 
out, ruu over the surface and then sink into 
the drain again. I would use tile, but I 
would not use the horseshoe tile in common 
upland if a man would give me the tile and 
put them in. The pressure upon the lower 
sides of the tile breaks each one through the 
top lengthwise. I wish to impress the im¬ 
portance of the test pits. They give positive 
evidence of the depth to go arid the distance 
apart for the drains, if a man watch the 
length of time the wat er stands in t hem. The 
drain next best to tile is one dug not over 
eight inches wide, and filled with cedar poles; 
two poles for the sides and one resting upon 
them for the top. The best system of drain¬ 
ing which a man can adopt will be found 
the one most prefitable. 
Dr. Wight— 1 have used horseshoe tile for 
fifteen years, miles of them, in all kinds of 
soil, and they arc not broken. 
Mr. Shull—I have seen tiles broken along 
the crown, but it was in heavy gravel soiL 
In alluvial soil I never knew one to break. 
Mr. Lewis— It is the pressure upon the 
lower edges that breaks the tile. In my soft 
soil they do not break, but on my upland 
clay and gravel I would not give a cent for 
forty rods. 
- 4 - 4-4 - 
GERMAN MARKET FAIRS. 
In Germany, besides the yearly Fair which 
corresponds to that held in this country, 
they hold four others, one every three 
mouths. These Fairs, or Yahr-markt, are 
regarded us holidays, when the country 
people from the surrounding darfsor villages 
come to the city, not solely for enjoyment 
but expecting to make extra good bargains, 
and in general to stock up until next Fair 
day. The city merchants arc busy the day 
previous in making temporary booths where¬ 
on to display their goods and which they 
place out in the streets, the old market place 
being the principal point. On Fair morning 
when one gets up lie is surrounded by the 
children of the house, who exclaim, “ Profit 
Yahr-markt,” meaning “To your health,” 
and with the expectation that you will give 
them a little spending money. Aud this 
course is the quickest way to escape their 
further clamor. On your way to the city 
you are surprised to see people returning 
home at such an early hour, some Jwitli a 
tub, chum or other article strung across them 
shoulders or drawn in a cart by a dog. By 
their early return it is evident they live some 
distance from the city. Upon your arrival 
at the market place a curious spectacle pre¬ 
sents itself. The booths aud stands are now 
filled with wares of every description. Those 
containing refreshments generally predomi¬ 
nate, they being covered with ail sorts of 
eatables, principal among which is the 
sugared bread, aud must be the counterpart 
of American gingerbread, as in the quantity 
displayed one would think it was sold by the 
square yard. Other booths are filled with 
dry goods, clothing, hardware or fancy no¬ 
tions, while the walks are covered with 
crockery, stone and wooden ware, all of 
which are supposed to be offered at unusually 
low prices. In another part of the city you 
will find live stock for sale. A horse raffle or 
lottery is one of the principal attractions, as 
are also the numerous side shows, some ask¬ 
ing admittance fees while othere rely on the 
generosity of the people for support. Such 
is one of the customs of the Fatherland, and 
of its merit or demerit my readers may 
judge. S', s. r. 
- 44“4 - 
FARM LABORERS. 
I am an agricultural laborer. I work out 
for a living by the month. I get good, fair 
wages the year around. I have no fault to 
find with the treatment given me. As a rule, 
I think those who do find fault ought to look 
to themselves for the cause. I do not mean 
that all employers are alike considerate. I 
know they are not; but I am careful not to 
liiro to such ineu. This is the laborer’s privi¬ 
lege. I would not give the education I have 
received as a farm laborer for the best col¬ 
lege education I know of—not that I under¬ 
value it, but because I have not neglected 
what the collegiate gains while obtaining a 
practical knowledge upon some of the best- 
managed farms in the country. 
I have never had any reason to complaim 
of proper consideration on the part of my 
employers. As a rule, the man is respected 
for what he is / and lor all that he is. Self- 
respect is the foundation for the respect of 
other. Good wages follow good service; 
poor wages, poor service. A gentleman is 
al ways recognized, no matter what his avo¬ 
cation. A lured man will win the confidence 
and respect of those who emply him, if he 
makes himself essential to them and does 
not assume to be what he is not. I have tried 
it and know that I say only what is true. I 
have been, more than once, offered an inter¬ 
est in the profits of the farm if I would con¬ 
sent to an arrangement by which my services 
could be retained a series of years. I prefer 
independence ; aud when I shall have accu¬ 
mulated enough money and experience I 
shall buy a farm of my own. Until then I 
shall serve my employers to the best of my 
ability, and learn all I can. This is the wisest 
course, it seems to me, for a 
A Farm Laborer. 
ECONOMICAL NOTES. 
Potash in Different Kinds of Ashe. s.—A 
correspondent of the Country Gentleman 
gives the following table, showing the 
amount of potash contained in a 1,000 lbs. of 
ashes, made from burning different kinds of 
wood : 
Pine . 
— Ik pounds, 
Poplar. 
. % 
Beech . 
.... VA 
Maple.. 
. 4 
u 
Wheat straw. 
.... 4 
44 
Corn stalks . 
44 
Oik leaves .. 
....24 
44 
Stems of potatoes . 
. 65 
44 
Wormwood . 
.... 73 
44 
Sunflower stalks . 
....19 
44 
Oak . 
.... 2X 
44 
Beech bark . 
.... 0 
44 
The remaining' portion of ash, consisting 
of carbonate and phosphate of lime, iron, 
manganese, alumina and silica, is au excel¬ 
lent fertilizer. 
. Best Time to Do Full Plowing. — 1 have 
been discussing this subject, informally, with 
some of my neighbors, and I find quite a dif 
ferenee of opinion and practice. I have re¬ 
solved to ask the opinion and experience of 
the readers of the Rural New-Yorker and 
of its editors. 1 am curious to know whether 
early or Late fall plowing is esteemed better 
for spring crops.—R. o. a. 
Our opinion is that fall plowing cannot be 
done too soon after a crop is removed from 
the land. This opinion is based upon much 
experience und observation — resulting in 
finding the seed-bed in better condition for 
seed in spring, and hence more certain to 
produce a good crop, other things being 
equal. But we shall be glad to have the ex¬ 
perience of farmers on this subject. 
Depth and Distance of Drains.— Mr. John 
Johnston, the father of under-draining in this 
country, answers a correspondent in the 
Tribune, that he placed the drains in his stiff 
soils twenty-five to thirty-eight feet apart; 
and two and one-half feet is deep enough for 
economy and use ; that thus deep tillage and 
manuring has brought him an average of 
forty-two bushels per acre over sixty-four 
acres ; that by this means the average of the 
wheat crop can be made as high here as in 
England, with keeping plenty of stock and 
making plenty of manure. He summer- 
fallows. 
Dried Blood ns a Fertilizer .—The process 
of granulating the blood of hogs, to be used 
as a fertilizer, is becoming a business of con¬ 
siderable importance in connection with the 
pork packing establishments of the West. It 
is cooked aud dried to a black powder, and is 
in fine graius. The bio oil of a hog is worth 
for this purpose about three cents before itis 
prepared. One establishment in Wisconsin, 
which uses up 5,000 swine per day, receives 
for the blood alone $150. 
