ONION SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION. 79 



On the other hand, the dealers assert that some mutual agreement is 

 necessary for self-protection against the more or less flagrant irregularities 

 in grading and packing. However that may be, it is certain that consistent, 

 honest practice on the part of the farmer would remove a part at least of 

 the reasons for the alleged combination of dealers. 



Still another charge is that when the crop is large, and the market 

 rather unsteady, dealers often refuse to buy onions excepting at under- 

 the-markefc prices and in small quantities, so that they are practically 

 insured against loss. On the other hand, if the crop is short and the 

 market steady, thej^ are quite willing to buy freely because there is small 

 risk. Certainly, they are in a position to know the market, and it is their 

 duty as dealers to share their profits, or share with the farmer his risks 

 or losses during a year of excessive production. Otherwise, the charge of 

 selfishness is certainly well founded. 



Fortunately, however, these practices are not common; many of them 

 arise from misunderstandings, or the trouble may be traceable to the 

 grower himself. The fact that the dealer knows the market and its 

 demands, whereas the grower does not, causes the latter to be suspicious 

 of anything which does not appear perfectly plain. Anything, therefore, 

 which will give the grower a more definite knowledge of markets will do 

 much toward bringing about a better feeling between him and the dealer. 



Traveling Buyers and Brokers. 



Traveling buyers and brokers operating in the valley work along lines 

 similar to those of the local buyer. The broker buys in quantities desired 

 and ships to wholesale houses which have placed orders with him. For 

 his service he charges a definite brokerage, usually about $6 per car. 

 In addition to buying on orders he also sells for growers and shippers. 

 Carload lots are billed directly to him in the markets and, acting as the 

 representative of the shippers, he effects sales subject to inspection merely 

 upon identification of shipment. 



The broker handles no funds, and his brokerage is fixed regardless of 

 the selling price of the onions. He should prevent unwarranted rejections 

 or secure proper allowances where rejection is justified. In practice, 

 however, brokers frequently favor buyers in order to keep in good standing 

 with the trade. They sometimes accept orders for more cars than the 

 trade demands, simply to get the brokerage with resulting low prices to 

 shippers. In late years their operations in the valley have hampered 

 the storage men in getting the maximum price for their onions. 



Traveling buyers are employed by individual wholesale or commission 

 houses on a definite salary basis, and perform the services of brokers for 

 these houses alone. The traveling buyer purchases from both growers 

 and dealers, and thus by becoming an actual competitor of the local 

 dealer increases the possibility of higher prices. When a short crop is 

 reported in the commercial onion belt, a great many of these buyers 

 flock to the Connecticut Valley. These men have less at stake than the 



