Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1893 — The Spanish Onion. [ARTICLE]

The Spanish Onion.

The largo and handsome Spanish oDions, which have been coming to this city in increasing quantities for the past half-dozen years, are now cheaper than they have ever been known heie. These vegetables are grown mainly near Valencia, in Spuin, and the first shipments this year, which came by the way of England, were harvested too early and were therefore watery. Being liable to quick decay, they were hurried upon the market and sold for low 'prices. The first direct importation was also otf-grade in quality, uud this set the price for the season very low, so that in many auction sales the price has baiely covered the freight and duty, to say nothing of the commissions and cost of packing. The duty of 40 cents on a bushel of fifty-six pounds, together with the lreight, commission, and cost abroad, brings the actual value to the importer about 80 cents a crate laid dowu, and, therefore, when prices range from 55 cents to $1 u crate, the trade has bten a disastrous one. Together with what has already arrived and what is exacted, the imports this year will amouut to 150.000 ciates or about 87 500 bushels. Attempts to raise this Spanish onion in California and other parts of the country from seed purchased in Spaiu have generally proved unsuccessful, a* the vegetables when grown htrrt do not differ much from the ordinary domestic onion, it seems that a Castiliau climate and soil are necessary for thii production of this delightful product. For this reason, and also because there bulbs do not come into conflict with home vegetables, a strong effort is now on foot to have the duty decreased to a more reasonable rate.—[Garden and I'orctt.