s’ E f TEXAS Adli[CUIIi‘U”RlSjl§"iE'i%@IEN1Y, BULLETIN NO. 60. A A gmTcw/dzfuavzl S6CZ‘L.O7Z——JlTNE, 190 1 -H0~9'ticuZt2¢-re. (Beevi/Ze 1V0. 5.) TWO METHODS OF GROWING? oNloNs. i; POSTOFFICE: COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS. AUSTIN. TEXAS: vox BOECKMANN, SCHUTZE & 00., STATE CONTRACTORS. l 1901. ~ [99] '-iw~tz ‘In r22 #5‘! 2t !‘I TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT smnnus. OFFICERS. GOVERNINGV BOARD. (BOARD 0F DIRECTORS A. s; M. COLLEGE.) M. SANSOM, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alvarad0. F. A. REICHARDT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H0ust0n. P. H. TOBIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Denis0n. A. P. SMYTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mart. JOHN W. KOKERNOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .San Antonio. JEFFERSON JOHNSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Austin. DR. A. C. OLIVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D0ug1asvi11e. WM. MALONE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hunter. STATION STAFF. THE PREsIDENT—~TREAsURER OF THE COLLEGE. J. H. CONNELL, M. S0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dire-ct01'. H. H. IIARRINGTON, M. Sc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chemist. M. FRANCOIS, D. V. M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Veterinarian. R. H. PRICE, B. S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H0rticu1turist and Mycologist. B. C. PITTUOK, B. A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Agriculturist. W. C. "MARTIN. B. S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Assistant Chemist. E. A. WHITE, B. S . . . . . . . . . . .-\ssistant Horticulturist and Blycologist. J. W. CARSON, B. S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Farm Superintendent. J. G. HARRISON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Bookkeeper. SUPERINTENDIDXT Olv‘ BFIEVILLE STATION. S. A. MOHENRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Beevil1e, Bee County. NOTEr-Tlté 12min station. is located 0n the grounds 0f the zlgrietlztltural and Mechanical College, in Brazos Coantjy. The posrtefiiee address is COLLEGE STATIOAT, TEXAS’. Reports are sent free. 0f 00st t0 fawners, llOTi/lCltllltVlSlfi, and sloclcmen 0f the State upon agaplieateien t0 the Direetm". [100] CULTIVATION OF ONIONS. m, a. c. PITTUCK +151" “ 3. A. MCHENiVkI Among our marketable vegetable crops the onion is perhaps one of the safest and most profitable t0 the general grower. Its easy adaptability to almost all soils, hardiness under severe changes in temperature, its drouth resisting qualities, ready and profitable response to applications of manures and its general freedom from ins-ect enemies commends it to the attention of our truck growers. While the onion can be grown with fair success for the kitchen garden in almost all localities and by almost anyone, to b~e successful as a truck crop, the grower must know how to grourit. Yfhe nicer points of onion.culture ennbrace peoidiar preparation of‘ the land, selection of proper variety, purchase of good seed, method of planting and care of crop to inatnr-ity. The land must be well prepared by repeated plowings for some weeks before using land, seed selected with greatest care as to variety wanted and freshness, planting carefully looked after in all its details, and the crop given the cleanest cultivation throughout Ms enfire &%mon.of growth, whether culfivated by hand or horse power. Well-rotted stable manure is justly the most popular form of fertilizer used udth the onion crop. Care should be taken not to use fresh and coarse manure as it is a source of weeds and will cause much additional eXpensein.the way of cuhnvafions. 'Phe bone mnnpoundg guanos and blood fertilizers are also to be recommended. The first two should be ap}flied.ati1u:rate of one ton per acre rniXed.in.eqtud.parts VVood.ashes 1 as a top dressing is valuable. Tfhe onion cro})is a surface feeder, hence } the advisabihty of carefulzind painstaking preparatnni and.ctfltivation, ;, and lightly harrowing in all applications of fertilizers. The time appli- cations should be made for the onion crop will vary with the kind of fer- ‘ tilizers used. Bone an.d potash materials should be applied at least two ,'weeks before the onioriis started in field. 1 Uhietest vdth.onions herein reported uporiyvas fornuulated for the pur- T-pose of esfirnating the difierence in yiehi and.cost of growing; due to handznulluuseculhnp. Seedsuerelflantadbothin.flnefiehland hibeds I Two varieties were included in the test—Bed Bermuda and Creole. All “ horse cultivated plots were seeded in 30-inch rows; hand cultivated plots 1 i11 14-inch rows. The distance in the rows was the same in each instance T-—4%inchesapart L101] 102 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. CULTIVATING BY IIAXD. The commercial onion crop in Texas grown both from se-ed planted in the field and from seed planted in beds and transplanted to the field. Horse and hand culture of the crop each have their advantages. Hand culture is a new system for this section, but has given very promising results. The experiments herein reported embrace results secured from a test of the horse system of culture compared With the hand system, two varieties being used——Creole and Bed Bermuda. The trials were con- ducted in duplicate with each of these varieties so that the results secured might be the more reliable. There is quite a diversity of opinion regarding the value of horse vs. hand culture with onions. During the season of 1898 the Station care- fully planned and carried out a test embracing these two fields of inquiry. ~ The opinion held by many growers, that the extra cost of cultivating and handling by hand will ofiset the increase in yjield, was found to be ground- less. An acre of hand-cultivated onions was grown to maturity at a cost of only seventy-five cents more than it cost to grow an acre of horse-cul- tivated onions. In this instance hand culture with Bermuda onion gave an increase in yield of 8601 pounds. The total cost of the crop, less seed, was $29.44 for hand culture and $20.83 for horse culture. The value of the crop at one cent per pound, less cost of growing to maturity, trim- ming and sacking, was $102.08 in the first instance, and $2~L68 in the latter~a net increase of . 77.40 per acre ‘in favor 0f hand culture zulth the Bermuda onion. BED vs. FIELD PLANTING. Planting seeds in beds and. transplanting to the field proved more prof- itable than field plantings. The cost of growing an acre to maturity (horse culture) was less where seeds were planted in beds. With both the Bermuda and Creole a net profit was realized. The cost of growing an acre of onions to maturity, planting seeds in beds and transplanting to the field was $16.00 ; planting seeds in field, the cost to maturity was $16.65. With the Bermuda a net profit of $25.94, due to planting seeds in beds was realized; with the Creole a net increase of $5.09 was realized. The plan of the experiment included siX plots—three of Bermuda and three of Creole, as follows: BERMUDA AND CREOLE. Plot 1.——H0rse Culture, seed planted in field, rows 30”x4%”. Plot 2.—H'0rse Culture, seed planted in beds and transplanted to - field, rows 30”X4l%”. Plot 3.-_H and Culture, seed planted in field,_row's 14”X4-§-". GRoWIXG Omoxs. 103 CONCLUSIONS. 1. Hand culture with onions is more profitable than horse culture. 2. Planting seeds in. beds and transplanting to the field With either hand or horse cultivated onions is more profitable than planting seeds in the "field. v ‘ 3. It costs less (Where labor ranges from tifty' cents to seventy-five cents per day) to grow an acre of onions to maturity by planting the seeds in beds than by planting in the open field. SUBIMARY OF RESULTS. RED BERMUDA. profit per acre of $24.68. 2. Horse Culture, seed. planted in beds and transplanted to field, rows 30"X4%”, made a net profit per acre of $50.65. ~ 3.‘ Hand Culture, seed planted in field, rows 14”x4—§-”, made a net profit per acre of $102.08. \ A CREOLE. 1. Horse Culture, seed planted in field, rows 30”x4-}”, made a net . profit per acre of $58.86. _g 2. Horse Culture, seed planted in beds and transplanted to field, rows 30”x¢l-}”, made a net profit per acre of $58.95. ' i, 3. Hand Culture, seed planted in field, rows 14”x~1%”, made a net l profit per acre of $80.41,. GROWING AND BTARKEZPING. SEED.-—One of the most important points in onion culture is to pro- a cure seed adapted to the section in which they are to be grown. Many of . the most popular varieties grown farther north fail to produce a good ' crop in South Texas, and most of those that do make a satisfactory yield produce an onion that will not keep in this climate. From our past expe- rience with twenty-three varieties We can recommend but two for extreme . South Texas—the Red Bermuda and the Creole. il/Iost of the Creole seed Y are grown in Louisiana. However, a small amount is raised. in this i" State, and seems to be equal in quality to that groxvn in Louisiana. The production of Creole seed is one of the neglected industries among our gardeners, and no doubt would prove profitable to those who would ac- tquaint themselves with its production, and engage in. the business. With the Bermuda onion it is quite different. The American grown vseed has proved very inferior to the imported. stock. Bermuda onions 1. Horse Culture, seed planted in field, rows 30”x4%”, made a net ' i10'4_ TFXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. varies according to the method of planting. It is important ‘that th amount of seed required per acre is made by planting seeds in beds and... from American grown seed do not mature well, and usually have a largb soft stem, and will keep but a short time after maturing. The best Be i’ mudaiseed are grown ontheifllerzerifie Islands and along westramcoast '0‘ Africa; - Imported-seed, if not fresh, have a low germinating power. SEEDING.—-Thci amount of seed‘ required to plant an acre of onion’ amount of seed, the area of the seed bed and the size of the field to ti] planted shouldibe rightly proportioned in order that economy of producé tion may be insured. Horse culture, seed planted in the field, row 30”x4%”, requires 1% pounds per acre; hand culture, seed planted in field,‘ rows 145x45’, requires 3 pounds per acre. A saving of 33-}; per cent. inf? transplanting to the field—requiring in the first instance one pound andT the latte-r two pounds per acre. _ i A About five hundred square feet of bed. surface is required for each pound ofseed. This space can, by careful handling, be reduced to four hundred square feet. Therefore, for an acre of transplanted onions to be 1T sitates a loss of many good plants. cultivated in 30”x4%” rows, five hundred feet of bed surface will answer ‘ the purpose for each acre, and one thousand square feet for onions trans- ‘ planted in rows 14”X4—}-”. Several reasons may be given why less seed are required when planted in beds. 1. The soil in the bed is more easily prepared, and moisture i conditions are directly under the control of the grower, which is not the j case inthe field. Consequently a larger per cent. of the seed germinate into healthy plants. 2. Transplanting from beds, each plant is placed g where it belongs. In field plantings thinning is resorted to, which neces- i The above conditions existing as to the two methods effect a saving of 33% per cent. .in amount of seed required in favor of planting seed in beds. 1; i. SEED Buns, PLANTING AND CULTIVATION.—-A piece of rich sandy loam, free from weed seed a11d convenient to water should be selected for 5 seed beds. Seed may be sown in drills three or four inches apart, or broadcasted. In either case they should be covered with soil only one- half inch deep. If the weather is warm and dry the beds should be sprinkled twice a day until the seed germinate, which is usually about nine days. If moss or other similar material can be had it will be found of value to be used as a mulch o-n the seed beds until the plants are about ready to come through the ground. 'It_ should then be removed. The use of themulch will/reducethe number of waterings required and insure a A larger percentage of germination. The seed beds should be kept free from weeds and the plants in a thrifty conditio-n until they are about six i i inches high. They should then be transplanted to the field. QGHQZQ. H OuwwuQHDwupzHv wmmfifidfikw. HwHGHLHvE QM. awbhfiwfiuww GZUQ! OCH. HZOLHN. WHU wQwEGUP OZHOHA. flowww OQHNHGWH. GROWING ONIONS. 105 Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show uses that can be nzade 0f the Planet Jr. Wheel Hoe in Cultivating Young Crops. Before transplanting the roots a.nd tops should be cut-back. Besides benefiting the plants, this operation renders them more easily handled in the field while transplanting. If the soilto which they are t0 betrans- planted is in proper condition, no trowel or dibble need be used, the onion being pressed into the ground by the forefinger. Cultivation should be shallow but frequent, never allowing the weeds a start. In cultivating care should be exercised not to work the soil to the onions, or hill them. However, it is not necessary to remove the soil from the bulbs, as is fre- quently recommended. ‘ i i GATHERING AND SIIIPPrNG.-——Onions should not be gathered until they are fully matured, otherwise they will not keep. As they near maturity the tops break and lop down. After pulling they should remain in the fields a few days until dry, and then the tops and ro-ots should be trimmed off. They are then ready to be sacked. and marketed, or removed to a suitable place and stored and held until marketed. _ Usually at time of gathering the price is low, as many growers sell direct from the field. During the season of 1899-1900, early onions (June 1st) sold at two to two and one-half cents per pound at the time p, of gathering. By the time the general crop was gathered the price went i g~ as low as seventy-five cents per hundred pounds. After the bulk of the 106 "Fnxiss AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS, crop had gone to market, ‘prices gradually improved until July 2-}, 1900, onions were selling at $1.25 to $1.50 per one hundred pounds. Usually the best prices prevail just before the Southern crop moves (May), and again after the bulk of the Southern crop has been marketed, and before the Northern crop matures (July and August). Therefore, it will be found most profitable to raise extra early onions and market-as soon as matured, or hold the general crop until the rush is over. For the early planting referred to We find the Red Bermuda prefer- able, while for long keeping the Creole has no superior in this climate. The Creole is not suited for early planting, because under these condi- tions it is inclined to put up seed stems. Onions are generally shipped in sacks, but it will be found profitable to use crates or bOXéSifOl‘ shipping the early, tender varieties, such as the Red Bermuda. The El Paso onion under favorable conditions does well here, but is very inferior to the Creole in points of hardiness and vigor and also in. keeping qualities. The Danvers make a light yield and lack the keeping qualities. The Australian Brown has been tested here only one season. Yield of salable onions was practically nothing. The stems were very large and soft and did not mature in a Way to be marketable. Similar results have been noted at Port Lavaca, while at a distance of 150 miles ‘from the coast the Australian Brown is reported as doing well. - The following tables give the actual cost of growing the onions in- cluded in the test of “methods of growing.” The expense is shown in detail according to method. It will be noticed that the nineteen opera- tions necessary to mature the onion crop grown from seed planted in the field with horse cultivation amounted to $16.45 per acre, while only thir- teen operations were necessary when the same crop was grown by “hand culture.” It is important that We should remember that the hand culture produced about three times the yield grown by horse culture. ~ GnowiNe ONIONS. 107 one. NO. 4. Planet h. No. 11. Double Wheel Hoe, with Attachments. _ If we compare the cost of experiment I with that of experiment II it Qwill be seen that there is practically no difference in the cost of growing an acre of transplanted onions as compared with the crop grown from r seed planted in the field, but the yield per acre is very much in favor of lithe transplanted acre. The same character of cultivation was given both gcrops. The repeated cultivations and the careful thinning and transplanting required under normal conditions when seed are planted in field, as shown iin experiment I], increase the cost of the system of production far beyond the expectations of the inexperienced grower. In order that the reader may better comprehend the system of cultiva- tion used, illustrations showing special tools employed in the cultivation fof the o11ion crop are inserted, which are quite effective and not so expen- ive as to prevent their use by any truck grower desiring to economize iabor. While we have had no general and practical experience with adjustable lultivator tools other than the li’la.net Jr. single hors-e and hand culti- lators which are manufactured by S. P. Allen 8t Co, Philadelphia, Pa, i‘ ere are probably others equally as well suited for the cultivation of arden crops. Some of tho-se embraced in this class and offered by E plement dealers a11-d seedmen are “Iron Age,” by Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia; ‘fEveritt’s Wheel Hoe,” J} A. Everitt, Indianapolis, Ind. ; is- cGee Wheel Hoe,” James H. Gregory 8t Sons, h/larblehead, Mass. ; ; Tnivcrsal. Wheel Hoe,” Ames Plow Co, New York; “Combination heel Hoe,” B. F. Averv & Sons. Dallas. Texas. 108 L-HORSE CULTURE, SEED PLANTED IN FIELD——BOWS 3O ' TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. IQ-tooth Cultivator, with Pulvertzer. Plaitet h. INCHES X 4 1-2 INCHES. —BERMUDA AND CREOLE. Sept. 1-:l..... Plowing and harrowing land ........................................ .. 5B 2 00 :_ ()ct. 16..... Hand raking ...................................... .......... .............. .. 95 . Oct. 28..... Planting seed in field. .......................................... ....... .. 60 Nov. 1l..... Cultivating——wl1eel hoe (Planet Jr,) ............................... .. 7O Nov. 16...“ Cultivating-IZ-tooth cultivator (Planet Jr.) .................. .. 60 a Dec. Cultivating-wheel hoe (Planet Jr.) ..... ........................ .. 40 lj Dec. Cultivating---12-tootl1 cultivator (Planet Jr.) ................. .. 60 Dec. 19..... Cultivating-wheel hoe (Planet Jr.) ............................... .. 40 Jan. Cultivating~wheel hoe (Planet Jr.) ............................... .. l 60 '“ Jan. Cultivating—12-tooth cultivator (Planet Jr.) .................. .. 60 Jan. 19..... Cultivating-Wheel hoe (Planet Jr.) ............................... .. 40» Jan. 20..... Cultivating-B-tooth cultivator (Planet Jr.) .................. .. 60 Jan. 25..... Thinning and transplanting ........................................... .. 3 90 Feb. (lultivating-E-tooth cultivator (Planet Jr.) ...... ......... .. 60 March 20..... Cultivating-IZ-tooth cultivator (Planet JrL) .................. .. 6O . April Cultivating—12-tootl1 cultivator (Planet Jr.) ...... .-. .......... .. 60 April 12..... Hoeing-weeding hoe .................................................... .. 1 5O April 16..... Uultivating-AZ-tooth cultivator (Planet Jr.) .................. .. 60 May Cultivating-IZ-tooth cultivator (Planet Jr.) ............. 60 A Cost to maturity ........................................................... .. $16 45 Gathering Bermuda (4551lbs.) ......................... ..$ 38 Topping and sacking ....................................... .. 3 8O 4 18 Total cost for Bermuda onions ..................... .. $20 83 7 W . $6 . wnmawo. . i dz ya» QHMMQHNHDQ G242 .4QD§MHummH QQMH AHQFWHE>MH1 ‘5- "5 “=1 Z3 u: CD C»: ' 5 5 O CD , Q p, CWUCJIA ‘ag- ‘Hflb-g $6055 a 3E3: an’? Chg Ti‘; °¢°_E m5 @052 Qg: ‘Zés 2w ‘Lil-Es: "B-J“ Q“ sfig gvg g-gs g5 gag $98.5 33% E5 U '51: gc Si; E“ gwigé ‘S w-v '_ >~ >-1 a . f: P s“, z Horse culture, seed planted in 4,551 $45 51 $16 65 $ 0 38$ 3 80 $20 83 $24 68 j field. . Horse culture, seed planted in 7,336 73 36 16 00 61 6 10 22 71 5O 65 bed and transplanted to field. _ Hzizjniidculture, seed planted in 13,152131 52 17 4O 1 09 10 95 29 4O 102 08 e . - CREOLE ONIONS. Q "U Q, PU 3-1 IU- F-l 33w "523 o>. - == ° mg g3 C3'Uq§- ‘*9. 144M) gdflbb 4355335..‘ p532 be»? o g 0.5 can: guano g5 Q 5 ab!) a 05"" “it: a o;$_o 0Q: m 4-’ Q) "-43 UB-F- O SQQE Q00 0.5“ 85 88g ..-oS.5 3g .-<:rIlO 51-191 02E o, 05;, seas a .,q.J..~-< I54; 2 Q ED T: 8 m; g OJ V >55 hi)“ a‘ F‘ u") Z Horse culture, seed planted in 7,842 $77 42 $16 65$ 0 64$ 6 47 $23 76 $53 66. field. Horse culture, seed planted in 8,257 82 57 16 0O 69 6 90 23 59 58 95 bed and transplanted to field. Haindd culture, seed planted in 10,664106 64 17 40 89 8 91 26 2O 80 44 e1 . " The stand of Bermuda onions, 0n horse-culture plots, where seeds were planted in the field, was not as good as on other plots. The season was unusually favorable for field plantings. Several light showers fell just previous to planting. The poor stand with the Bermuda was due to the seed—with both bed and field plantings the seed showed poor germinat- ing qualities. The stand with the Creole onion, field planting, was better than is usually secured. The above tables of financial results indicate that the Bermuda onion will respond more liberally to hand culture than will the Creole onion. The Creole onion in experiment I and II gave a greater net profit per acre than the Bed Bermuda onion under similar conditions, while with hand culture, the Bed Bermuda made an increased net profit of $21.64 per acre over the Creole onion, The results with horse culture with the two varieties indicate that the Creole onion is better suited for the pur- pose, while for hand culture the Red Bermudais to be preferred. . GROWING ONIONS. 111 All methods of culture resulted in net profits per acre varying from $24.68 (Bed Bermuda—horse culture, seed planted in field) to $102.08 (Red Bermuda-hand culture, seed planted in field). The onion crop herein. reported upon was grown without irrigation. Under the favorable conditions that surround the truck growerrin the coast country, one ma11 can, Without irrigation, grow and market eight acres of onions, which, estimated at an average price of one cent per pound, will be worth $1,052.16 on the market. One man to handle eight acres, hand cultivation, would require some help at time of transplanting and gathering, but will not keep him employed the entire season. The estimated cost of. help one man would need in working the eight acres referred to above would be about as follows: At time of transplanting, $26.00; at time of gathering and topping, $72.00. Hand culture only slightly increases the cost of growing the onion crop, and at the same time enables the grower t0 plant more than double the number of plants to the acre. r. KuAWuX X" (‘- m E5. Rcvn. ,’¢..-.\:<\ls.»., ' t ma“ some». 1V1; ku-u. I v. ‘f. }.K\“>\?L?_ '3\{\1\J\_-\—.~Y_g.1. p Saakkuu ll‘ Q‘ K k \ .5 e03: “DST. 35‘ \ \ W" Luis L'- - s 3 a u fir“ A smut-m A \s\,'\t Run s*§_L=»~-@\- ux Bee (Iouvix; ‘In ca" Qureeujvix a“ Iuflbl- Cu ali ‘Ln I us. 3.115.025- \\> l.\"\\h‘\‘ Q ‘b. "1' gv. m; \‘-\:\\.=\\'\.\§ amazes“; In» \§§\_Ll ‘baa. .81‘? \£\4 i S; §\\g Ln» v- 1- “u T“=\- _v.mmm.<._ FIG. NO. 6. BEEVILI-E STATION SURVEY. (1511/2 acres.) ~ House and Irrigatmz Reservoir are located near Wind Mill rm “Key Wezt Irr. Co.” Survey.