MARKETING ONIONS 7 
vast inland sea, and the portions that have heen placed under irri- 
gation are all below sea level. Ordinarily one-third to one-half 
of the State's early shipments come from Coachella. Of these, 
about 80 per cent are Yellow Bermuda and the remainder are 
Crystal Wax. Harvesting is begun about April 1 and continues 
through May. 
California Bermudas in midwestern markets compete sharply 
with those from Texas during the latter part of the Texas season. 
In most cases competitive strength seems to turn on the quality of 
the season's crop and the methods and care used in grading. Both 
crops are raised under irrigation, but the weather has a great influ- 
ence on size and marketable condition. The California crop must 
pay a higher average freight rate. 
Louisiana. — The onion crop of Louisiana is approximately 90 per 
cent Creoles and the remainder Bermudas. Quality varies greatly, 
because there are many growers each of whom produces a small lot. 
Frequently heavy rains at digging time injure most or a consider- 
able part of the crop. The usual quantity of Louisiana onions 
shipped from New Orleans is locally estimated at from 350 to 500 
cars, including large quantities forwarded in small lots and in mixed 
carlots. The season runs approximately from May 10 to June 10, 
but local dealers often hold a part of the stock as late as Jul} 7 " 10. 
REPRESENTATIVE MAIN-CROP SECTIONS 
The northern or main crop is raised in a few rather well-defined 
areas, mostly in a dozen States, from California, Idaho, and Wash- 
ington eastward to New York and Massachusetts. Onty eight of 
the main-crop States report annual shipments of more than 500 cars. 
California ships onions every month in the year, but the late crop, 
produced in the vicinity of Fresno and Sacramento, is usually three 
or four times as large as the early crop of Riverside and Imperial 
Counties. 
California. — The heaviest western production of the late-crop 
onions centers in the low lying, almost swamp islands in the delta 
region of California at the junction of the Sacramento and San 
Joaquin Rivers. San Joaquin is the greatest of all onion-producing 
counties, raising over 5,000 acres yearly. From its chief, shipping 
point, Stockton, approximately 1,500 cars were forwarded annually 
in 1921 and 1922. Scattered acreages are found throughout the cen- 
tral part of the State. In contrast to the desert conditions of the 
Bermuda-onion district, the late-producing areas are chiefly islands, 
protected by huge dikes, that range from a few hundred to several 
thousand acres in area. Waterways take the place of roads. Com- 
munication is largely by fast motor boats, and hauling to the rail- 
roads is accomplished with barges and steamboats. Harvesting be- 
gins about the middle of May for the earliest varieties and continues 
until the middle of November. The most common varieties grown, 
in order of importance, are : Australian Brown, White Globe, Yellow 
Danvers, and an early red variety of a flat type commonly called 
Red Spanish. 
Massachusetts. — In 1919 the Connecticut Valley onion crop in 
Hampshire and Franklin Counties, as shown by the census returns, 
attained a farm value of over $500 per acre, all raised on a very 
