78 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
March 
CULTIVATION OF ONIONS. 
The cultivation of onions is in many sections an im¬ 
portant business. In some parts of Connecticut, Mas¬ 
sachusetts, and other places, they are raised in large 
quantities, and disposed of both for home consumption 
and for exportatien. As we have had many inquiries 
in regard to the culture of this vegetable, we think we 
cannot give the information desired in a better manner 
than it is embodied in the following essay, which was 
written by John W. Proctor, Esq., and received a 
premium from the Essex (Mass.) Ag. Society. At 
our request Mr. P. has furnished a drawing of the 
“ Onion Hoe,” which has enabled us to give a cut and 
description of the implement in connexion with the 
essay:— 
The culture of onions has increased so much, within 
a few years, in this vicinity, that it has become one of 
the staple products of the county. In the town of 
Danvers, more money is realized from the sale of the 
onion, than in any other product of the soil. Products 
of so much value, and commanding so much attention, 
are fit subjects of inquiry; and if there be any facts re¬ 
lating to their cultivation not generally known, it may 
be useful to have them brought forward. 
In making these inquiries, our attention has been di¬ 
rected almost entirely to practical cultivators, without 
reference to scientific treatises. Our intention being 
to tell their story, as near as possible, in their own 
way. 
We shall treat of the subject in the following order: 
2. The preparation of the land. 
2. The manure best adapted to promote the growth. 
3. The raising and planting of the seed. 
4. The care necessary to be applied while growing. 
5. The blights and injuries to which the crop may 
be liable. 
6. The time and manner of harvesting. 
1. As to the preparation of the land. 
Differing from most other crops, the onion grows well 
on the same land for an indefinite number of years. 
Instances of continued appropriation of the same pieces 
of land to the growing of onions, for ten, fifteen, twenty, 
and even thirty years, have come to our knowledge. 
It is the opinion of many that crop is better, after the 
land has been thus used a few years, than at first. 
Whether this arises from any influence of the crop up¬ 
on the soil, or is the effect of continued dressing of 
manures, we have no means of determining. This is 
certain, that the qualities of the soil necessary for the 
production of good crops are not exhausted by con¬ 
tinued cultivation. 
Rarely, if ever, have we known the onion sowed up¬ 
on the turf when first turned over. It is usual to sub¬ 
due and pulverize the soil, by the cultivation of corn, 
or some other crop. Not unfrequently the first year 
with corn, the second vrith carrots, and afterwards with 
onions. It is important, before the seed is sown, that 
the surface be mellow, finely pulverized, and clear of 
stones or other impediments, to the free and unobstruct¬ 
ed use of the machine for this purpose. The finer and 
more uniformly mellow the surface is made, the better. 
Shallow plowing, say from four to six inches deep, is 
Usually practiced. Once plowing only in the spring, 
and frequent harrowings, are practiced. Before the 
plowing, the dressing is usually spread upon the sur¬ 
face of the field, so as to be covered or intermixed in 
the furrow. The mingling and subdivision of it, is ef¬ 
fected by the use of the harrow. 
Whether it would not be advantageous occasionally, 
to stir the land to the full depth of the soil, is a point 
on which there is a difference of opinion; most of the 
cultivators inclining to the use of shallow plowing only. 
There are some facts tending to show r , that occasional 
deep stirring of the soil does no harm to the onion 
crop, but on the contrary is decidedly beneficial. As for 
instance, onions do better where carrots have grown 
the ye.ar preceding, than after any other crop. The 
carrot necessarily starts the soil to the depth of ten or 
twelve inches. Possibly there may some other influ¬ 
ence upon the soil from the plant itself. Our belief is, 
that the thorough and deep stirring of it, is the princi¬ 
pal preparatory benefit. 
2. The manure best adapted to promote the growth. 
Any strong manure, well rotted and finely subdivided 
will answer. But the general impression seems to be, 
that manure from stables, where the horses are freely 
fed with grain, is the best; and that it should be at 
least one year old, because it will not be sufficiently 
rotten in a less time. All agree that the dressing for 
the land should be kept near the surface, well mixed, 
and as fine as possible. Though we have seen the pre¬ 
sent year a very superior growth of onions, w T here green 
manure from the barn-yard was applied in the spring; 
but particular pains were taken to subdivide and inter¬ 
mingle it with the soil; and to bush-harrow the land 
so thoroughly, that very little manure was exposed up¬ 
on the surface, 
Muscle-bed is frequently used upon onion land. A 
portion of this is deemed by some almost indispensable. 
We have known the continued use for half a dozen 
years in succession, even without other manures, with 
a continuation of fair crops ; but the general impression 
is, that it will not do to repeat the application of mus¬ 
cle-bed many years in succession. The effect being to* 
harden the land, and make too much of a crust about 
the surface. Without question the effect of the muscle- 
bed is congenial to the growth of the onion, giving 
those who live in the vicinity of rivers where it is found, 
a special advantage over those who are remote from it . 
Leached ashes are also a valuable manure in the cul¬ 
tivation of the onion; more so when leached than be¬ 
fore. All kinds of ashes are advantageously applied- 
on onion land. 
Compost manure made of meadow mud and droppings 
from the cattle, we have known advantageously ap¬ 
plied on onion fields; but we have many doubts as to> 
this being the best application of this kind of manure. 
A more lively and quickly operating manure is better 
for the onion; one that will give them an early start, 
and advance them as fast as possible, in the first part 
of the season. The utmost vigilance and activity is 
used by our cultivators in getting their land ready, at 
an early period of the season, for the reception of the 
seed. It is the first field labor of the spring. The use 
of compost manure w r ill depend much upon the constit¬ 
uents of the soil with which it is mixed. If the soil be 
a sandy loam, with a porous subsoil, the compost will 
do tolerably w r ell; but if it be a black soil, with a 
clayey subsoil, such as are most of the lands where 
onions are raised in this vicinity, stable manure, or 
muscle-bed, or leached ashes, or a mixture of these, 
will be a better application. The quantity ordinarily 
applied annually is from four to five cords to the acre. 
Whatever is applied should be generously applied. It 
will be vain to expect full crops of onions, without 
full manuring. When the manure is collected, it is 
benefitted much by a free application of elbow grease 
