96 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 169. 



While these prices are somewhat higher than the grower received, the 

 farmers' prices for the same months would show about the same variation. 

 The table shows that the average March price is about 52 per cent, higher 

 than the September price. 



We are now able to estimate the farmer's possible gain by holding his 

 crop. The table above shows a steady rise in price from December to 

 April. The question is whether this rise is sufficient to cover the items 

 of extra expense before enumerated. 



As an illustration, let us take the case of a farmer who has 1,000 bags 

 of onions. By selling in September at the price listed he would receive 

 $1,620. The interest on this at 5 per cent, for five months would be 

 $33.75, or 3.4 cents a bag. Adding to this the loss from shrinkage, over- 

 head charges for storage and extra handling, we have a total cost of 33 

 cents a bag. The average price during the storage months is $2.18 per 

 bag. This is 56 cents above the September price, 66 cents above the 

 October price, and 46 cents above the November price. According to 

 these figures it would pay this farmer to store. 



The general plan, however, is for the small grower to rent storage space 

 at 25 cents a bag. Add this to the increase for shrinkage, 11.4 cents, and 

 interest, 3.4 cents, and we have a total advance of 39.8 cents per bag. 

 Even under this plan the farmer who stored would gain over his neighbor 

 who sold in September and October; moreover, it appears that the charge 

 of 25 cents per 100 pounds is higher than necessary for the commercial 

 storage of onions. Of course, the man who holds his crops for any particu- 

 lar season must take chances on shrinkage and on receiving the average 

 price indicated. 



Local Cold Storage. 



No onions are placed in cold storage in the valley, though one of the 

 storages is so constructed that a cold-storage plant may be installed at 

 any time. Local warehouses are used almost exclusively until March, 

 and after that date some onions are put into cold storage in Boston and 

 New York where they are kept as late as the first of May. 



In the opinion of a number of leading growers and storage men, a cold- 

 storage plant in the valley would be a profitable investment. Others 

 argue that since the Connecticut Valley onions must be closed out as 

 soon as possible after the middle of April because of the arrival of the 

 Texas Bermudas, the period would be too short for the profitable operation 

 of the expensive equipment necessary; moreover, the shrinkage of onions 

 in cold storage is usually high. In spite of every precaution the onions 

 seem to absorb moisture which greatly impairs their keeping quality. 



Terminal Storages. 



Terminal storages are of two kinds : — 



1. Common. — Of the large quantities of onions shipped to the principal 

 markets during the months from September to December, a great many 

 are held in lofts, cheap warehouses and potato warehouses for later sale. 



