24 
BULLETIN 1325, IT. S. DEPABTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
1918. The general results are charted in Figure 13. Reports did 
not include the presumably small supply of stock still in the hands 
of the growers, but comprised returns from most classes of dealers 
and storages. Apparently wholesalers held nearly two-thirds of 
the stock in commercial channels at that time. Retailers laid in rel- 
atively larger stocks in 1917 after a season of very light production. 
Car-lot shipments after January 1 each season were one-third to 
one-half of the total holdings. It may be concluded that about that 
portion of the total midwinter wholesale stock is likely to be in 
country storages and available for carlot shipment. The remaining 
half to two-thirds represents the quantity already in or near con- 
suming markets and quickly available for local supply, not including 
whatever quantity may be held at that time by local producers. 
Estimates from trade sources for the seasons from 1918 to 1921, 
COMMERCIAL ONION HOLDINGS JANUARY 1 AND SUBSEQUENT SHIPMENTS, 
1917 AND 1918 
NUMBER OF CARS 
3.000 4.000 5.000 
6.000 7.000 8.000 
1917 
HOLDINGS - 
SHIPMENTS 
1918 
HOLDINGS -'- 
SHIPMENTS 
AV. 1917-18 
HOLDINGS - 
SHIPMENTS 
Wholesalers 
Retailers ^^ Warehouses \.\'\ Miscellaneous 
Pig. 13. — Car-lot shipments after January 1 each season average one-third to one- 
half the January holdings. Midwinter stocks are mostly in dealers' possession 
inclusive, indicate that the equivalent of 1,000 to 4,000 cars of the 
January stock on hand were not shipped in car lots, but were used 
locally or accounted for by waste and shrinkage. 
TRANSPORTATION 
EARLY ONIONS 
The first onions on the market usually bring the highest prices, 
and growers are likely to begin to harvest before the onions are fully 
ready for shipment and hurry them to market by the quickest 
method. The first Texas onions may come through by express ; later 
most arrive by fast freight. A lot of early onions ready for ship- 
ping-point inspection and loading is shown in Figure 14. 
The perishable nature of the product, the consequent necessary 
care in handling, the fast train schedule, but especially the long 
distance from field to market, make the freight and handling cost 
