MARKETING ONIONS 17 
these dealers, between October and March, cash and fertilizer ad- 
vances of approximately $40 per acre. The grower in return agrees 
to market his onions through the dealer for either a fixed marketing 
charge per crate, or a commission which usually amounts to about 
10 per cent of the total sales. 
In southern California many of the individual acreages are small 
and the growers finance themselves. Some shippers make crop ad- 
vances and take as security a first mortgage on the crop or sale con- 
tract. In soine cases the shipper leases the land from the grower 
and employs him to produce the onions on a straight contract, the 
actual ownership of the onions in this case being vested in the ship- 
per. Large growers are often financed by the shipper in return for 
the exclusive marketing privilege. Still others do not finance the 
growing of the crop but furnish the grower with cash advances for 
harvesting expenses, to be repaid out of the proceeds of *the crop. 
In the delta region the growers either finance themselves or pro- 
duce the crop with a cash advance on contract or on a crop-sharing 
plan with the shipper or distributor. 
CONNECTICUT VALLEY 
The production of onions in the Connecticut Valley is financed 
largely by the landowner and his tenant under the crop-sharing 
'plan, supplemented by liberal credit from the fertilizer companies. 
By this arrangement the landlord supplies the land, the fertilizer, 
frequently half the seed, and prepares the soil for seeding. The 
tenant supplies all the other labor and either half or all the seed, 
depending on his agreement. The crop is equally divided between 
them at harvest. 
Some credit is also extended by the local banks, merchants, and 
seed dealers. Bank loans to pay for labor and fertilizer are made 
chiefly to the large growers. They are made almost solely on 
personal security, usually for a term of six months, interest at G 
per cent, payable in advance. Approximately three-fourths of the 
fertilizer used is bought on credit without interest. Sales are 
made on open account, are unsecured, and call for payment about 
December 1. Liberal cash discounts are allowed for payment prior 
to July 1. Seed is advanced on credit by the local merchants who 
act as agents for the seed companies. Dealers do not advance 
money for production or marketing. 
Local dealers maintain large and well-constructed storage houses 
and ship the onions in accordance with market demand. In addi- 
tion, they rent storage space to growers on reasonable terms, thereby 
giving to all growers ample opportunity for holding and marketing 
their crops, provided they can finance the storage. Bank loans to 
enable growers or dealers to store onions are based on the resources 
and financial standing of the individual and not on the onions as 
collateral. 
ORANGE COUNTY. N. Y. 
In Orange County, N. Y., much the same conditions prevail as in 
the Connecticut Valley. Bank loans to growers are used cheifly for 
living expenses and to pay labor. 
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