A B C OF FLORIDA TRUCKING 115 



VARIETIES. 



There are only two kinds of onions tliat have proven a 

 success for growing in Florida for shipment to markets. 

 One of these, the Creole, is a native of Louisiana and makes 

 a very good shipper, being an excellent keeper, but is not 

 as popular with the truckers here as the other variety, which 

 is the Bermuda. There are three different kinds of this on- 

 ion : the Crystal Wax, which is a pure white waxy color ; the 

 White, which is more of a straw color ; and the Red. If you 

 want to make a success of your crop plant nothing but the 

 genuine Tenerifife grown seed. There are many houses which 

 sell California grown seed, claiming it is just as good, but, 

 from personal experience, I know it will not pay to use 

 anything but the imported seed. For home use any of the 

 following varieties make good onions which will keep well : 

 Australian Brown, Red Weathersfield, Prizetaker, White 

 Pearl and the Silver Skin. 



PACKING AND SHIPPING. 



As soon as the onion tops begin to turn yellow and dry 

 up, the crop is matured, which is usually from the middle 

 to the last of April. Pull up the onions, leaving them in the 

 held in piles so the bulbs will not be exposed to the sun, as 

 sun-burn is apt to cause them to rot. If the weather is 

 rainy the onions should be placed under a shed and spread 

 out to dry. Clip the tops off close to the bulb before pack- 

 ing. Sheep shears are excellent for this purpose. If you 

 wish to keep the onions, it is a good idea to leave the tops 

 on until you are ready to market them. The most satis- 

 factory crate for shipping them in is the Owosso or the 

 Cummer crate. It is best to grade the onions, packing each 

 size to itself, throwing out any damaged ones. Bermudas 

 are very tender and have to be handled carefully. Many 

 a trucker has had his profit turned into loss through the 

 carelessness of his help in gathering and packing them. 



