MARKETING OF BERMUDA ONIONS 37 
As a result, the season opened about the usual time. The freezing 
temperatures of March followed by extremely hot weather in April 
injured the quality materially, especially because of the unusually 
advanced growing stage of the plants at that time. There were 
more doubles, seed stems, splits, " bottlenecks, " and other indica- 
tions of poor quality than ever before. This was the most important 
factor affecting the grower's receipts during the 1923 season. Slightly 
more acreage than usual was planted, but shipments were smaller 
than in any year except 1919, because of the exceptionally large 
proportion of culls. 
Prices were about an average between the high and low years, but 
did not fluctuate so widely as usual. (See fig. 11.) Opening prices 
were only moderate, and as it became apparent that the new crop 
would be short, the effect was to maintain prices on about the same 
level. Had the onions been of good quality and properly graded, 
probably an advance would have taken place similar to that of 1919. 
As it was, prices at shipping points sagged gradually until a point was 
reached where poorly graded onions no longer paid expenses. Onions 
were then more carefully graded and the market strengthened. 
Though prices in 1923 were not lower than average, few growers 
made much money because of the very low yield per acre. 
The growers' cooperative association, in operation in the upper 
counties, handled a majority of the crop of the section, the graded 
product securing higher prices than most other agents secured. 
Selling methods in the other sections were little different from those 
in general use. 
FACTORS INFLUENCING WHOLESALE PRICES OF BERMUDA ONIONS 
Differences in the prices paid for Bermuda onions, as already shown, 
are the result partly of physical factors inherent in the lot of goods, 
such as variety, container, quality, and condition, and partly the 
result of economic factors such as volume of shipments, carry over 
of old onions, and prices of other commodities. 
PHYSICAL FACTORS 
In the early part of the shipping season Crystal Wax Bermudas sell 
between 25 cents and $1.25 per crate higher than Yellow Bermudas, 
usually 50 to 75 cents higher, both at California and Texas shipping 
points and in the principal consuming centers. In the middle of the 
season, the two varieties sell at about equal prices, and the last of the 
Crystal Wax usually sell for less than the Yellow. The change is due 
principally to the deteriorating quality of the Crystal Wax as the 
season progresses. Crystal Wax Bermudas are more delicate than 
the Yellow and more easily injured by sun, rain, or handling, and 
therefore do not stand shipment in hot or rainy weather so well as the 
Yellow. The prices paid for Crystal Wax are governed largely by the 
prices being paid for Yellow Bermudas, because the latter make up 
about 90 per cent of the crop. 
CONTAINERS 
Practically all of the Bermuda-onion crop of Texas and California 
is marketed in folding slatted bushel crates holding approximately 
50 pounds. Before 1920, experience with containers other than 
