Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1909 — ALF'S ONION CROP A FAILURE. [ARTICLE]

ALF'S ONION CROP A FAILURE.

Jasper County’s Onion King Knocked Ont By Parasites Working On Crop. Alf Donnelly, who has long borne the title of the Jasper County Onion King, is knocked almost completely out this season by a small worm that is called the “onion maggot,” wlfich has cut his crop down to practically nothing. Where he ought to have had 2,500 bushels he will perhaps get 200 bushels. Some of those who rented ground from him have fared some better, and will perhaps get 500 bushels. Mr. Donnelly was up through the Gifford district this week buying some of the crop grown there, and he tells us they had a very good yield and that from 10,000 to 15,000 bushels were raised there this year. The Gifford district seems better adapted to onion, cabbage and other vegetable growing than it does to farming, and the sooner this is learned perhaps the better it will be for the people who live up in that muck country.