S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
rest of the crop was from three intermediate-crop States and 16 
late States, including the northern districts of California, all recog- 
nized as main-crop sections. In average estimated total production 
the three leading States were California, New York, and Texas, each 
raising the equivalent of 4,900 to 5,900 carloads. Three States — 
Ohio, Massachusetts, and Indiana — raised 3,000 to 3,500 carloads. 
The six States raised about three-fourths of the estimated average 
commercial crop for the five years 1918 to 1922. 
The States do not rank the same in volume of car-lot shipment as 
in production, because of variation in percentage of the crop used 
and sold locally or disposed of otherwise than in car lots. Average 
car-lot shipments for the five seasons 1918 to 1922 show the six lead- 
ing States in the following order: California, Texas, New York, 
Massachusetts, Ohio, and Indiana. 
Production fluctuates greatly from year to year, but shows no re- 
cent definite tendency to increase greatly. It tends rather to alter- 
nate heavy and light crops, with lighter crops in the odd years, as in 
1919, 1921, and 1923. The relative rank of the States in acreage is 
nearly the same as in production, but the average yield per acre is 
generally heavier in the main-crop sections. The industry has shown 
increasing concentration. In 1900, 10 counties reported 21 per cent 
of the total commercial acreage; in 1920, 10 counties planted 38 
per cent. 
For long periods large gains are indicated by census reports of 
acreage. The total increase in onion acreage from 1909 to 1919 was 
from 47,600 to 64,300 acres, or 35 per cent. Regarding the growth 
for the preceding 10 years, the figures are indefinite, but it can be said 
that production, as reported in 1900, including that for home con- 
sumption, was -about equal to commercial production in 1910. 
COMMERCIAL AND SHIPPING CROP 
The proportion of the early crop marketed in car lots varies from 
three-fifths to nine-tenths of the estimated production. Three years 
out of five, early shipments equaled about three- fourths of the early 
crop. 
Main-crop shipments seem to bear less relation to reported produc- 
tion. The average proportion shipped is two-thirds. But in 1917 
the shipments were less than two-fifths and in 1924 over six-sevenths 
of the estimated yield. Inaccurate or incomplete reporting is re- 
sponsible for part of this variation, but onion yields have a way of 
swinging from high to low and back again, owing to conditions, 
many of which are beyond human control. The prevalence of high 
prices in the large cities in short-crop seasons tends to attract sup- 
plies that ordinarily would not be shipped in car lots to distant 
markets. 
CLASSES AND TYPES 
EARLY AND INTERMEDIATE 
Onions are classed according to season of marketing as early or 
southern (Bermudas and Creoles), and late, main crop, or northern. 
The Yellow Bermuda (fig. 1) constitutes the greater part of the early 
southern crop. It is a mild-flavored, rapidly-growing, heavy-crop- 
