94 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 169. 



poorl3^ This was notabl.y true of the product stored in 1915-16. The 

 temperature of the storage should be kept as near 30° F. as possible by 

 using the ventilators. 



The problem of timing shipments to conform to the rise and fall of 

 the market necessitates an acquaintance with the condition of the onions 

 in storage, transportation facilities and methods, and onion market con- 

 ditions in all the principal cities. 



The selection of safe and reliable men at the receiving end is another 

 problem. This is necessar}^, for even honest business men are strongly 



tempted to refuse consignments if 

 the market is on the decline when 

 they arrive. This is one of the 

 chief reasons why the small farmer 

 cannot risk direct shipment. 



Still another problem is to keep 

 down the cost of doing business; 

 that is, office expense, up-keep of 

 storage, purchase of bags and labor 

 expense. In a large way these 

 costs per bushel seem to vary im- 

 mediately with the quantity stored 

 provided the storages are filled to 

 capacity. 



Shrinkage. 

 The data collected from twenty- 

 two storages show that the shrink- 

 age for the season of 1914-15 was 

 about 10 per cent, of the quantity 

 stored. It is seldom less than 7 

 per cent, for any one year, and 

 hardly ever exceeds 15 per cent., 

 except for onions held until the 

 very last of the season. The crop 

 of 1915 was unusual in this re- 

 spect. The wet season of 1915 caused the onions to become affected 

 with "slippery skin" and "center rot," so that losses as high as 35 per 

 cent, were reported. The average shrinkage, however, probably did not 

 exceed 20 per cent. 



Shrinkage losses as well as the cost of extra handling must be considered 

 in computing the total cost of sto'rage. In figuring the shrinkage loss, 

 the value of the onions stored is taken at $1.14 per 100 pounds, which 

 represents the average price paid to farmers for the three years, 1913-15. 

 The cost of extra handling from storage and loss by shrinkage on the 

 basis of 250 bags would be as follows: — 



Fig. 25. — A newer type of onion warehouse. 

 Note the number and arrangement of the 

 ventilators. A portion of a roof ventilator is 

 shown to the right of the brick chimney. 



