34 
BULLETIN 1283, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
probably did not bring over $1 to $2 on a shipping-point basis. By 
the middle of June, prices had so far declined that consuming markets 
paid only 75 cents to $1.50 per crate. 
The extremely high opening prices seem to have been caused by 
the high expectation of the growers and of the trade based on the 
high prices of 1919. There were fewer old onions than usual and they 
were selling at a little more than usual prices. But an analysis of 
factors that usually influence opening prices fails to indicate that such 
extremely high prices were warranted. The unusually drastic decline 
with the advent of heavy shipments supports this view. 
The 1920 season differed from the previous years in that no heavy 
rains occurred during the harvesting season. This resulted in a more 
concentrated movement and a better condition of stock throughout 
the season than is usually the case. Not only was the crop of excel- 
lent quality, but the yield was generally heavy, many growers har- 
vesting 700 to 900 crates per acre. 
1920 WEEKLY BERMUDA ONION PRICES 
CENTS 
PER 
CRATE 
500 
400 
300 
200 
100 
600 
500 
400 
300 
200 
100 
1 I 
NEW YORK 
CHICAGO 
1 
PITTSBURGH 
llm 
BOSTON 
~H I 
PHILADELPHIA 
m 
ST. LOUIS 
1 
bit 
1 1 
AV.SIX CITIES 
1 
SHIPPING POINT- 
I 
^& APR. MAY JUNE APR. MAY JUNE APR. MAY JUNE APR. MAY JUNE 
Fig. 10.— This was a year of extreme prices. The highest opening prices of the period were followed by 
the most rapid and sustained decline. The rapidity of the decline seems to have been the result of an 
unwarrantedly high price in the beginning and the dry weather, which permitted an unusually well- 
sustained movement 
Owing to the heavy movement of cabbage from southeastern 
Texas and the general shortage of ventilator and refrigerator cars, 
converted box cars were used for the transportation of most of the 
onions. Holes were cut in the ends of the cars and the doors were 
slatted. Bushel baskets and sacks were used for a part of the crop 
on account of an insufficient supply of crates. These containers were 
cheaper than crates, but did not give entire satisfaction, for their use 
was greatly curtailed in 1921. This equipment under the unusual 
continuance of dry weather throughout harvest, carried the season's 
crop fairly satisfactorily. 
It was very difficult to market profitably in the 1920 season. Early 
in March the sentiment was rather pessimistic. A trade paper 
reports that only 5 per cent of the Laredo area was contracted as 
compared with a much higher normal percentage, because dealers 
were afraid of a very large Texas and California crop and heavy 
