24 BULLETIN 1283, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Mission and the Asherton sections, but did not handle any large 
portion of the Texas crop. 
In July, 1922, under the auspices of the farm bureau, an associa- 
tion of growers was organized, which established seven local associa- 
tions for marketing -the onions of the upper counties. This associa- 
tion marketed most of the crop from the upper coimties section in 
1923. The associated growers were also able to secure S50 an acre 
for members' production purposes and to buy $80,000 worth of crates, 
on time, by means of association notes. A force of field inspectors 
was employed which succeeded in improving the quality of the 
grading and pack to such an extent that prices were often secured 
25 cents per crate higher than on onions handled through other 
channels. A firm was selected as sales agent that had previously 
handled a large percentage of the onions from this section. 
SALES DIRECT TO WHOLESALE DEALERS 
Some of the larger growers sell direct to dealers in various cities. 
Sometimes the car is started toward a diversion point (usually Taylor 
or Texarkana, Tex., or St. Louis) and sold en route by telegraph. 
Such a car is said to be "rolled unsold." The price and terms are 
fixed by telegraphic offer and acceptance. If satisfactory "wire 
orders" are not forthcoming, the car may be sold at destination. 
In some cases the car is sent direct to a carlot receiver or wholesale 
merchant who has bought the car for a certain price, subject to in- 
spection at destination. 
If the car is shipped "draft attached," the biU of lading and a sight 
draft for the amount of the invoice are sent to a bank in the buyer's 
city and he must pay the amount of the draft before he can get the 
car. If the buyer's reputation is satisfactory the car may be shipped 
"open," in which case the buyer may unload the car immediately 
upon arrival, the two parties making whatever terms they see fit as 
to payment. 
"F. o. b. sales" are usually understood to mean sales at the ship- 
ping point of the onions loaded in cars, the buyer assuming all costs 
and risks of transportation. "F. o. b. destination," "f. o. b. Chi- 
cago," and similar expressions require the seller to assume transpor- 
tation costs and risks and place the car on track at destination. Such 
a sale is made on a "delivered basis." The prevailing price of the 
onions at shipping point plus transportation costs is considered to be 
"delivered cost" at the city in question. 
Most sales on wire orders are "f. o. b. usual terms," or "subject 
to inspection," which means that if the onions on arrival are not as 
described by the seller, the buyer may refuse the shipment. The 
seller must then either lower the price sufficiently to secure the 
buyer's acceptance, or dispose of the shipment through other chan- 
nels. This privilege is sometimes abused, particularly on a declining 
market. In such cases, since the shipper is not present and can not 
easily dispose of his onions through other channels, he is more or less 
at the mercy of the receiver. Similar abuses may exist if the goods 
are sold on a commission basis. A dealer may remit to the shipper 
on the basis of a quality or condition much inferior to that of the stock 
actually received. The establishment of recognized grades, and the 
maintenance of Government inspectors in the principal markets have 
considerably improved these conditions in recent years. For a fee of 
