106 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 169. 



Varieties of Onions handled. 

 The principal competing varieties and the duration of each on the New 

 England markets may be seen by a study of the accompanying diagram 

 (Fig. 31). Strictly speaking, however, three varieties take care of the 

 general onion trade in the New England States. They are the Connecticut 

 Valley, supplemented to a greater or less extent by the New York and 

 Ohio varieties, the Egyptian and the Texas Bermudas. Those from the 

 Connecticut Valley rule from September until April. Texas Bermudas 

 begin about April 10, and are at their height during May, June and July. 

 The Egyptians fill in the gap between the going out of the Connecticut 

 Valley onions and the coming in of the Texas Bermudas. 



Fig. 31. — Duration of the different varieties on the Boston market. Note the chief com- 

 petitors. A heavy Texas crop is disastrous to Connecticut Valley sets. The Spanish 

 onions have a special trade, and do not really compete with the Connecticut Valley onions. 



The Spanish onion, which is excellent in keeping quality and of very fine 

 flavor, may now be had almost the year round. It has a trade of its own, 

 and can hardly be called a competitor of the three varieties mentioned 

 above. It should be noted, however, that the Ohio and New York varie- 

 ties arrive on the New England markets about a week later than the onions 

 from the Connecticut Valley and are their chief competitors through the 

 season. 



Variations in the Supply of Onions. 



The supply of onions for four seasons on the Boston market is graphically 

 represented by Fig. 32. ^ 



In studying this chart one is impressed by the marked yearly and 

 seasonal fluctuations. The causes for these may in many instances be 



' For the supply of onions in the commercial onion-growing belt, see Part I. of this Bulletin. 



