ONION GROWING IN COLORADO 
7 
in the fields from ten days to two weeks to cure. Where sufficient crates 
are available these are left ini crates rather than sacks for the curing. The 
roots are not usually cut from the onion as the roots soon shrivel and are 
broken off from the bulbs in handling. The sacks used are practically the 
same as those used for potato growing, 115 pound Liverpool returns, or 
centrals. When the market is such as to make it possible, the larger part 
of the crop is shipped direct from the field. Our -growers are coming 
more and more to storing a part of the crop, for in average years the price 
is considerably better some time during the winter thau at harvesting time. 
This does not always prove true, however, and sometimes growers find 
that while the market is fair in the fall there is practically no market in 
winter or spring and the crop is sometimes lost. The market for onions is 
practically the same as that for potatoes. Sometimes they are shipped 
to Chicago or Kansas City but more often to Texas and other southern 
points. The great drawback to the onion growing is the variability of the 
market price. There are several reasons for this variability. The con¬ 
sumption of onions is somwhat limited as compared with our other staple 
crops. Production is probably rather more variable than any of the other 
crops; consequently, the price is controlled largely by the production in 
the east, which always depends on whether the season is normal or abnor¬ 
mally wet or dry. Owing to the climatic conditions of Colorado, it is 
probable that our production is more uniform from year to year than that 
of the eastern states, but as the bulk of the crop is grown in the east, the 
yield here has little influence over the market price. As nearly as can be 
estimated, the price at selling time in the fall has been ini the neighborhood 
of $1.00. 
COST OF PRODUCTION AND YIELDS 
It is a noteworthy fact that comparatively few of our growers seem to 
know the cost of production of their crop. As a business proposition, onion 
growing as well as other crops must be carefully considered from the 
standpoint of cost as well as that of production and market values if we 
are to make a successful business. Various growers with whom we have 
talked have made various estimates of this cost. One of the most successful 
growers and one who has been in the work for fifteen years has given 
the cost of production as follows: (This cost is based on a five-acre unit, 
or that which is considered to be what one man can handle during the sea¬ 
son.) 
One man, six months.$360.00 
Manure for the land. 75.00 
Plowing and harrowing. 15.00 
Sacks for harvesting. 225.00 
Seed. 60.00 
Lifting . 5.00 
Hauling to market . 35.00 
Total ...$775.00 
The weeding, irrigating, and other labor is considered in the wages of 
the one man for six months. This gives us a total cost of $805, or $161 per 
acre. This is based upon a production of 35-6 sacks of 115 pounds each per 
acre. While this may be a little high £or the average cost over the state, 
it is probable that it is not far from correct and does not include taxes, 
interest on investment, or depreciation of tools, although the latter item 
is of comparatively small importance, as one of the factors in favor of onion 
growing is that comparatively little machinery or horse power is required 
for onion culture. This leaves the grower $241.50 per acre from which 
must be deducted the taxes, interest, and depreciation. While this looks like 
a big income per acre, one must remember that the limit of the acreage per 
man is decidedly low. Some growers estimate that a man can .take c .^ re 
six or seven or even eight acres. It is doubtful in most cases if it will pay 
one man to attempt handling over five acres without extra help. The real 
factor in the business that must be considered by anyone contemplating 
