March I957

n-

_\1

TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
R. D. LEWIS, DIRECTOR, COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
m COOPERATION WITH THE

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF IKGRICULTURE

DIGEST

Texas ranks first in the United States in total acreage planted t0
onions. The 5-year average, 1949-53, of 44,860 acres represents 36.8
percent of the total acreage planted to onions in the United States, The
average annual production during this period of 4,569,000 50-pound
bags in Texas was 10.7‘percent of the total for the United States; In
total value, the Texas onion crop at $8,131,000 constitutes 14.3 percent
of the 5-year average annual value of all onions produced in the United
States (1).

Practically all onions produced in Texas are of the Bermuda and
Grano types. Because they are adapted to short days and moderately
cool temperatures, varieties of this type are particularly suited to Texas
when grown as winter and early-spring crops. Onions from Texas are
the first on the market in the spring, and because of their mild flavor
and attractive appearance they generally command a premium over
old-crop or storage onions.

The tremendously expanded onion-breeding program developed
cooperatively by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the
U. S. Department of Agriculture has resulted in many new varieties
and hybrids.

aw»

Contents

I.

Digest ...................................................... 

Introduction ...........  ................................ ..

Areas of Commercial Production ....... 

Varietal Adaptations ............................. ..
Varietal Descriptions ............................. .;
Open-pollinated varieties ............... ._

F, Hybrids ...................................... 

Miscellaneous Hybrids ................... ..¥
Source  ‘Seed and Transplants ......... 
Literature Cited ..................................... ..
‘ Appendix ................................................... 

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p, UDA ONION WAS INTRODUCED into South
r1898 when a packet of onion seed was
_ ar Cotulla (10) ., The onions were ship-
a waukee, Wisconsin, where they were so
*1 ically received that a larger acreage
 d. The first carload of Bermuda on-
ped from Texas originated at Cotulla in
f: of 1899.

04, approximately 500 acres were plant-
rmuda onions in South Texas. In the
I 1907, 1,011 carloads of onions were
from South and Southwest Texas; in
.uction had more than doubled and 12
shipped 2,920 carloads in 1909. Ship-
ched 6,735 carloads in 1917; this figure
‘i exceeded until 1928 and 1929 when the
 ements were 7,055 and 7,232 carloads,
ely. The largest movement in 50 years
gle season was 10,164 carloads in 1946.

Canary Islands, principally Teneriffe Is-
uced most of the Qnion seed planted in
til about 1946. Until recent years, the
f: of Bermuda onions generally grown in
“re known as Yellow Bermuda and White
a or Crystal Wax.

 acreage planted to Bermuda onions in-
 the Canary Island growers were over-
';meet the demand for seed and after 1920
ing quality of Island seed was notice-
ere was an increased mixing of strains
ties, probably because new and inexperi-
owers were entering the seed business
pbetter growers could not find sufficient
' for their seed fields. The increase in
End splits and doubles caused the per-acre
 S. No. 1 onions to become so low that

y~

‘I K .

a a.

ely, superintendent, Winter Garden Experiment
Crystal City, Texas; and head horticulturist,
 ral Crops Research Branch, Agricultural Re-
rvice, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Belts-

land.

Union Varieties In Texas

BRUCE A. PERRY and HENRY A. J 0NES*

South Texas growers seriously considered chang-
ing from the Island-grown Bermuda seed to the
Babosa, or Grano varieties, which were imported
originally from Spain in 1925.

To develop varieties better adapted to South
Texas, the Winter Garden station inaugurated an
onion-breeding program in 1933. The program
was expanded considerably in 1939 with the es-
tablishment of a cooperative breeding program
by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. The
breeding work was again expanded in 1946 when

breeding lines, experimental varieties and hy- 

brids were planted cooperatively in growers’
fields throughout South Texas.

AREAS OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION

The early spring crop of onions is grown prin-
cipally in the irrigated areas of South Texas, Fig-
ure 1. Producing areas include the Lower Rio

Figure 1. Principal onion producing areas of Texas.

Grande Valley area (1), the Laredo area (2), the
Winter Garden area (Zavala, Maverick, Dimmit,
LaSalle and Frio counties) (3), the non-irrigated
Coastal Bend area (4) and the area of Wilson
and Karnes counties (5).

Late spring production is centered around
Farmersville and Princeton, Collin county, in
North-central Texas (6).

Considerable production and increased inter-
est have developed in recent years in the irrigated
district of the High Plains with the greatest acre-
age centered around Hereford in Deaf Smith
county (7).

VARIETAL ADAPTATIONS

Most onion varieties are limited in adapta-
tion. A variety may yield well in one area and
be a failure in another. The onion grower should
have a knowledge of varieties so that he can se-
lect the ones best suited to his particular condi-
tions. A new variety or hybrid should be tested
in small plantings until it is proved to be adap-
ted to an area.

The varieties grown in Texas differ in size,
shape, color of bulb, bolting habit, pungency and
time of maturity, as well as tolerance to diseases,
insects and climatic conditions. The adaptation
of varieties to an area is determined primarily
by the conditions which affect bulb development,
chiefly length of day and temperature. The
length of day necessary to promote bulbing var-
ies with different varieties and is influenced by
temperature. Other factors that affect date of
maturity are the size and age of the plant.

In South Texas only those varieties that ma-
ture their bulbs by May 15, such as Excel (986),
Eclipse and Texas Grano 502, make acceptable
commercial crops. The length of day and tem-
perature generally are favorable to initiate bulb-
ing in these varieties around the middle of Feb-
ruary in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. They
reach maturity in 6 to 8 weeks after bulb develop-
ment begins, the exact length of time being great-
ly influenced by temperature and other growing
conditions.

Late-maturing varieties do poorly in the
southern areas. The length o-f day required for
certain later maturing varieties is reached about
April 20 at Crystal City; for other varieties the
daylight is never long enough.

4

' and mild in flavor. The bulbs reach a d

VARIETAL DESCRIPTIONS  

  
  
 
 
   
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
   
   
  
   
  
    
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  

Open-pollinated Varieties

Crystal Wax. Bulbs are flat with vet
shiny, dry, white scales that are soon bro -{
lost in handling. The flesh is soft and 
flavor. The bulbs reacha iiiameter of 3
inches when grown under irrigation. AT
ety bolts and splits rather readily. Secon
Recommended for areas 6 and 7.

The Crystal Wax onion was first list
G. Hastings in 1897 with a sufficiently *9
scription to distinguish it from White 1
which has a light yellow skin and later A
known more correctly as Yellow Bermuda;

Yellow Bermuda. Bulbs are flat wi
few thin, shiny, pale-yellow scales that a’
broken and lost in handling. The flesh,

of 3 to 31/2 inches when grown under i p,
Second early. Recommended for areas 6

The Bermuda _onion with pale-yello
was first listed by Peter Henderson & Co.
as White Bermuda. D. Landreth & Co.f
says that although shipped as White Be =
really “has quite a yellowish character”
though known as a product of Bermud
Italian origin (9).

Red Bermuda. Same as Yellow Berml
cept for being red. 

Early Grano (Babosa). The bulbs l
shaped and have very few thin to medi _
pale-yellow scales. The flesh is soft a,
mild in flavor. Early Grano is somewha
ant to thrips, but very susceptible to in
the pink root fungus. The variety bol
less readily than Yellow Bermuda and A
Wax in Texas when planted at the same n.
is a heavy yielder in the absence of pi;
Second early. Later in South Texas art
Yellow Bermuda. Recommended for ar =?
7. ’

The Early Grano onion was import
nally from Valencia, Spain, in 1925 un
name Valencia Grano 9452. The New,_
Agricultural Experiment Station grew s
the original lot and.made selections. v.
Early Grano was proposed for the selec -=
in 1931 in Bulletin 193 of the New Me
tion (9). 

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l Grano (Babosa). Same as Early Grano
a a or being white.

zCreole. The bulbs are small to medium
 to flattened. They are dull buff red
in half, with more buff in the veins
 e upper half toward the neck; dry scales
more dull and more buff with age. The
  very firm and very strong or pungent in
I This variety is grown on a limited acre-
(Texas, chiefly for export. Second early;
p along with Yellow Bermuda or slightly
iii-Recommended for area 5.

C} Creole has been grown in Louisiana for
 Ysars. The source of the original va-
 not known, although it is supposed to be
 origin (9).

ite Creole. Same as Red Creole except for
 hite.

Ceet Spanish. Bulbs are medium to large
Cund to slightly oval shaped, having many
if-thick, brownish-yellow dry scales that
‘rly Well retained during storage and hand-
(Fairly. resistant to thrips damage and may
Cred for short periods if well cured. The
is firm but of mild and sweet flavor. Late.
mended for area '7.

is variety was introduced from Spain in
nd improved and introduced by Aggler &
(9). Many strains now are available.

(‘hite Sweet Spanish. Same as Sweet Span-
 ept for being white.

 Joaquin. Bulbs intermediate in shape be-
 a full globe and a typical Grano top shape,
f ellow. The flesh is soft and mild in flavor.
i hat resistant to damage by thrips. Sec-
rly; matures somewhat later than Yellow
llda in South Texas and in some years only
will percentage of plants produce marketable
 Recommended for areas 6 and 7.

- Joaquin was developed from a cross be-
A Stockton G 36 and Early Grano 62, and
(‘rossed to Early Grano. It was introduced
l1 by the California Agricultural Experi-
Station and the USDA) (2).

wcel (986)? In most plant characteristics,
i is similar to Yellow Bermuda but it splits
 less. It is resistant to pink root. The
 are a little thicker than those of Yellow Ber-
s   and free of pink flesh. Plants have smaller

Figure 2. Excel (986) is uniform in shape and size.

tops and necks than the average Yellow Bermuda.
Early; 10 to 14 days earlier than Yellow Ber-
muda. Recommended for areas 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Excel is a single-plant selection from Yellow
Bermuda that was developed and introduced in
1945 cooperatively by the USDA and the Texas
Station (7).

Texas Early Grano 502. Characteristics of
Texas Early Grano 502 are similar to those of
Early Grano except that it is more uniform and
much earlier in maturity. The tops are not as
heavy as those of Early Grano and the foliage is
more upright. The bulbs are broader and not so
pointed at the root end as those of Early Grano.
Like other strains of Early Grano, it is very sus-
ceptible to pink root. However, on good soil
where pink root is not a factor, it will produce
tremendous yields. Early; matures along with

Figure 3. Texas Early Grano 502 has well-developed
bulbs that are more rounded on the root end than in the
original Early Grano.

Figure 4. The earliness of Early Crystal 281 (right) as
compared with L-365 (left) is indicated by all tops being
down.

Figure 5. Eclipse in soil infested with pink root fungus.

Figure 6. Bulbs and tops of Early Crystal 281 at harvest
time. Note uniform medium size oi bulbs, characteristic of
this variety. '

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Excel in South Texas. Recommended for a
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. i

A selection out 0f Early Grano was rel
by the Texas Station as Texas Grano in 1944
An earlier selection with small upright tops»
released in 1947 as Texas Early; Grano 502 t
place the original release.  ”"

L-690. A Crystal Wax type of good size
thick, flat bulb shape with trim neck; flesh  
white. The variety has a very good color in
growing plant and appears more resistant
other varieties to “tip blight” or “tip burn.” S
ly; 3 to 5 days earlier than Excel and shoul
be planted in areas where Excel is not su v
ful. Because of its tendency to produce s3
and doubles, L-690 has been replaced largel
more recent introductions. Recommended-
areas 1, 2 and 3. t

L-690 was developed cooperatively by the y
as Station and the USDA to give the onion 1
ers of South Texas a white onion for early -
ment. It was released _to seedsmen in 1949. 
variety came from a series of crosses and =,
tions involving Crystal Wax, Yellow Ber
and White Persian (11). it

L-36. This variety is similar to Excel,
matures about a week earlier. It is a ver
fined onion with a small neck and when well .9
ed is more attractive than Excel. Bulbs.
somewhat firmer and tend to keep better w
those of Excel. The variety is highly resi
to pink root. Early. Recommended for ar
and 2. ‘

L-36 was developed and released jointl
the Texas Station and the USDA in 1953. 
a mixed ancestry, involving Yellow Bermuda
White Persian, but the last two backcrosse
fore selfing were to Excel (12),. 

L-365. A Crystal Wax type similar to
It has consistently outyielded L-690. This
riety is highly resistant to pink root and p
exceptionally heavy root system. Less subj
splits than L-690. It tends to bolt more tha
sirable, especially if planted too early. For
and other reasons, it probably will be rep
by Eclipse. It matures about 10 days later 
L-690. Early. Recommended for area 4. C

L-365 was developed and released by the 
as Station and the USDA in 1953. The ped'

  
  
   
   
  
  
   
    
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
    
   
  
 
  
  

 ‘involves Crystal Wax and a plant of Ex-
isurvived the pink root test (12).

gse. A Crystal Wax type highly resist-
ink root, bolts and splits less than previ-
  ductions 0f this type, and very produc-
 is mild in flavor, and the bulb is a very
fve white. It matures about the same time
p» or a few days earlier, and about a week
iys later than L-690. Recommended for
,  2, 3, 4 and 5.

ipse was developed by the USDA and the
FStation. It was released in 1954. The
@- of Eclipse involves Crystal Wax and Ex-
 lots of white segregates from the selfed-
ises L-302 and L-303 gave rise to the
' Eclipse (5).

 ly Crystal 281. A Crystal Wax type about
its earlier than Eclipse, has considerable re-
je to pink root and is very highly nonbolt-
lecause of its earliness, it is somewhat less
tive than Eclipse; it is slightly more pun-
 The bulb is an attractive white. Because
a delayed bolting habit, the bulb-to-seed
 ~ should be used for seed increase. Early.
gmended for areas 1 and 2.

rly Crystal 281 was developed jointly by
Jtas Station and the USDA. Itwas releas-
1.1955. The pedigree of Early Crystal 281
geld the varieties Crystal Wax and Excel

_ brids

 anew. A yellow, F1 (first-generation), Ber-
Ptype hybrid. Bulbs are intermediate in
 between Bermuda and Grano. Resistance
f}. root is intermediate between the two par-
a This hybrid is very mild in flavor, which
i. it a good salad onion. Early; 3 to 5 days
 than Excel. Recommended for areas 1,
 and 5.

 anex, developed cooperatively by the USDA
A e Texas Station, was released in 1952. The
e, or seed, parent was developed from Ex-
l is similar to Excel except that it is male-
p. The pollen parent, Texas Early Grano

 an inbred out of Texas Early Grano 502

Shite Granex. A first-generation white hy-
lis similar to Granex in shape and general
rance, except for being white. The bulbs

Figure 7. Commercial planting of Granex, approximately
1 week before harvest. Note uniform development of bulbs.
Yield from this field ran 780 bags U.S. No. 1 per acre.

Figure. 8. Bulbs and tops of White Granex at harvest‘
time. Bulbs are intermediate in shape between Bermuda
and Grano varieties.

Figure 9. Yields in this test for pollen parent B-14lO (18),
White Granex (12) and seed parent L303 (20) 6.91.1561, 757
and 494 bags (50 pounds) per acre. respectively. I a

7

 

are thick and flat, intermediate in shape between‘

the two parents. The tendency to- bolting and
doubling is about the same as for Eclipse and
Granex. Resistance to pink root is intermediate,
same as that of Ganex. White Granex is 7 to
10 days later in maturity than Granex. Early.
Recommended for areas 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

White Granex was developed through the co-
operative onion-breeding program of the USDA
and the Texas Station, and was released in 1956
(8). It is an F1 hybrid from the cross L-303 x
B-1410. The male-sterile, 6r seed, parent, L-303,
is a selection out of Eclipse. The pollen parent,
B-1410, is a white F2 selection from a cross be-
tween Texas Early Grano 951 and Crystal Grano.

Miscellaneous Hybrids

During the joint breeding pro-gram of the
USDA and the Texas Station many additional
hybrid combinations have been produced and
tested. Two combinations made and tested in
1953 were 986 x L-303 and 986 x L-365 (14).
Both of these combinations produce bulbs simi-
lar to Excel, except they are somewhat lighter
in color. They are somewhat more productive
than Excel and are highly resistant to pink root
(6). The seed parent is the same as that of
Granex. Therefore, a few commercial seedsmen
are producing seed of one or both of these hy-
brid combinations under the names Texas Hy-
brid 23 and Texas Hybrid 28. The combination
986 x L-281 also gives satisfactory performance.
Any of these hybrids is a satisfactory substitute
for Excel and should yield 10 to 20 percent bet-
ter. Early. Recommended for areas 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5.

SOURCE OF SEED AND TRANSPLANTS

A variety or strain of onions should be selec-
ted or developed in the general area where it is
to be grown. This is especially true of South
Texas where, even in June, the days are not as
long as is required for many varieties of onions
to produce mature bulbs. The use of seed from
bulbs selected in more northern areas results in
many immature bulbs if they are grown in ex-
treme South Texas. To maintain the early-ma-
turing habit, the bulbs for production of stock
seed for a given variety should be selected in the
area of its commercial production.

For best results, good strains should be ob-
tained. The use of poor seed or incorrect variety

  
    
   
    
   
  
  
   
  
  
   
  
    
 
   
  
   
   
   
  

identification frequently results in an a g
total crop failure. Therefore, growers s
obtain seed or transplants from a reliable so“

For information on cultural practices and?
ease control see publications: a Onions in -
Extension Bulletin 220, Texas A&M College
tem; Growing the Transplant Onion Crop, F
ers’ Bulletin 1956, U. S. Department of 3
ture; and Onion Diseases and Their C0
Farmers’ Bulletin 1060, U. S. Department of
riculture. i

LITERATURE CITED

1. Anonymous. 1955. Vegetable—Fresh Market.
nual Summary U. S. Dept. of Agriculture
1203.

2. Davis, G. N. and H. A. Jones. 1946. “San -~
new early maturing, non bolting, high yielding
“especially adapted to the Southwest. Southern 1
man 9(7):17.

3. Hawthorn, L. R. Texas Grano Onion.
Exp. Sta. PR 899. 1944.

4. Jones, H. A. and B. A. Perry. 1951.
cause boom in new silver and gold onion.
Seedsman 14(9):21, 61, 67.

5. Jones H. A. and B. A. Perry. 1954. Get rea
the Eclipse. Southern Seedsman 17(9):20-21. l

6. Jones, H. A. and B. A. Perry. 1956. Inheri :
resistance to pink root in the onion. Jour. of f
ity 47(1)=33-34.

7. Jones, H. A., B. A. Perry and G. N. Davis. I
The New Excel. Southern Seedsman 10(3):13, ,

8. Jones, H. A., B. A. Perry and P. W. Leeper. l
White Granex. Southern Seedsman 19(10):20-

9. Magruder, R. et al. 1941. Description of t i
principal American varieties of onions. ‘U. S.
of Agriculture Misc. Publ. 435.

1o. Mally, F. W. 1915. The Bermuda Onion. '
State Dept. of Agriculture Bul. 46.

11. Perry, B. A. and H. A. Jones. 1951. South:
into a new Crystal. Southern Seedsman 14(,
55. A

12. Perry, B. A. and H. A. Jones. 1953. L-36
Yellow and L-3,65 White lick pink root. -;
Seedsman 16(10):15, 72, 73.

13. Perry, B. A. and H. A. Jones. 1955. And 
the Early Crystal. Southern Seedsman 18(9):

14. Perry, B. A. and (H. A. ‘Jones. 1955. Perfo’
of short-day pink-root-resistant varieties of o
Southern Texas. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. i
353.   ’ ’

 
  

4

APPENDIX

PERFORMANCE OF EXCEL IN -COMPARI-
 SON WITH YELLOW BERMUDA‘

 

Marketable yield, 50-
L pound bags per acre,

  

Year U. S. N0. 1
Yellow
Bermuda Excel

1951 306 440
1951 535 517
1952 279 440
1952 103 273
a 1952 307 690
_ ven 1952 233 506
ty ‘ 1952 95 725
pe City 1953 164 355
i, 1953 190 715
 1953 162 699
5 oven 1953 105 508
i ty 1953 116 481
' i 216 529

 

  
  

 _ at some locations in the same year.

 PERFORMANCE OF L-690 IN COMPARI-
' SON WITH CRYSTAL WAX

Marketable yield, 50-
pound bags per acre,

   

Year U. S. No. 1
Crystal _
‘A Wax L 690

i’ '|',y 1950 288 401

" i aven 1950 254 341
 ation 1952 92 275

1952 134 257

p 1952 183 620
 = aven 1952 132 s97
. ‘ty 1952 47 498

». City 1953 115 309

, 1953 139 372
I 1953 105 250
Haven 1953 74 292
‘City 1953 111 442
' 140 371

  

is. PERFORMANCE OF L-36 IN COMPARI-
' SON WITH EXCEL (986)

Marketable yield, 50-
pound bags per acre,

Year U. S. N0. 1
Excel L-36

1949 271 294
1949 506 486
1949 573 439
1949 768 532
1949 666 706
1950 325 352
1950 327 301
1950 482 367
ty 1951 440 388
de City 1953 355 359
' 1953 481 447
1953 508 456
1953 511 633
1953 699 602
1953 715 699
1953 394 585
501 478

\

TABLE 4.

SON WITH L-690

PREFORMANCE OF L-365 IN COMPARI-

Marketable yield, 50-
pound bags per acre,

Location Year U. S. No. 1
L-690 L-365
Weslaco 1952 239 262
Raymondville 1952 285 370
Laredo 1952 257 450
Laredo 1952 620 852
Winter Haven 1952 397 614
Crystal City 1952 498 689
College Station 1952 275 439
Rio Grande City 1953 309 362
Crystal City 1953 442 516
Winter Haven 1953 292 459
Laredo 1953 250 593
Laredo 1953 372 645
Weslaco 1953 384 509
Average 355 520
TABLE 5. PERFORMANCE OF WHITE GRANEX IN
COMPARISON WITH ECLIPSE AND
GRANEX
Marketable yield, 50-pounda
_ bags per acre, U. S. No. 1
Location Year
White -
Granex Eclipse Granex
Weslaco 1955 694 585 729
Laredo 1955 352 383 417
Winter Haven 1955 757 517 724
Crystal City 1955 609 477 619
College Station 1955 638 414 560
Weslaco 1956 632 453 697
Laredo 1956 430 443 411
Winter Haven 1956 446 312 381
Crystal City 1956 643 581 667
College Station 1956 484 473 597
Average 569 464 580
TABLE 6. PERFORMANCE OF ECLIPSE IN COM-
PARISON WITH L-365
Marketable yield, 50-
, pound bags per acre,
Location Year U. S. No. 1
Eclipse L-365 '

Laredo 1952 515 450
Winter Haven 1952 616 614
Crystal City 1952 567 689
Rio Grande City 1953 561 362
Laredo 1953 729 645
Laredo - 1953 929 593
Winter Haven 1953 554 459
Crystal City ‘1953 603 516
Crystal City 1953 750 623
College Station 1953 376 282
Weslaco 1954 511 299
Laredo 1954 622 382
Winter Haven 1954 539 516
Crystal City 1954 717 736
Crystal City 1954 468 597
College ‘Station 1954 507 417
Average 598 511

TABLE 7. PERFORMANCE OF GRANEX IN COM-
PARISON WITH EXCEL AND TEXAS
EARLY GRANO 951

Marketable yield, 50-pound
bags per acre, U. S. N0. 1

Location Year ,
Excel Granex TEG 951
Winter Haven 1951 440 698 517
Laredo 1951 517 790 621
Weslaco 1952 273 576 328
Laredo 1952 690 862 507
Winter Haven 1952 506 869 683
Rio Grande City 1953 " 355 775 483
Winter Haven 1953 508 760 583
Crystal City 1953 481 682 610
Crystal City 1953 511 981 778
College Station’ 1953 343 472 316
Weslaco 1954 485 691 567
Weslaco 1954 399 571 262
Winter Haven 1954 500 711 489
Crystal City 1954 736 931 804
' Crystal City 1954 592 881 279
College Station 1954 414 632 525
Winter Haven 1955 526 724 621
Crystal City 1955 340 619 378
College Station 1955 273 560 425
Weslaco 1956 415 597 540
Winter Haven 1956 244 381 255
Crystal City 1956 486 667 223
Average 456 701 491

TABLE 8. YIELDS OF ONIONS GROWN ON SOIL
INFESTED WITH THE PINK ROOT
FUNGUS, LAREDO

Yield per acre,
50-pound bags, U. S. No. 1

1951-52 1952-53 1953-54 1954-55 Av.

Variety or pedigree

Texas Early Grano 502 18 95 57
Texas Early Grano 951 94 32 84 70
L-690 257 250 254
Granex 670 591 557 417 559
Excel 440 699 562 452 538
-- L-36 602 385 494
Eclipse (L-303) 515 929 622 387 613
Early Crystal 281 502 700 495 324 505
L-365 450 593 382 366 448
Excel x L-281 691 964 724 363 686
Excel x L-303 861 405 633
Excel x L-365 499 806 479 435 554
Crystal Wax 134 99 107
Yellow Bermuda 279 128 204
L.S.D., 5 percent 86 114 94 93
L.S.D., 1 percent 113 150 125 123

10

    

TABLE _9. PERFORMANCE OF EARLY CRYSTH
IN COMPARISON WITH ECLIPSE ‘

Marketable yi
pound bags pe

Location Year U‘ S‘ N0‘ 1

c Early

Crystal 281

Laredo 1952. 3 502
Winter Haven 1952 ' if" 458
Crystal City 1952 738
Laredo 1953 616
Laredo 1953 700
Rio Grande City 1953 493
Winter Haven 1953 504
Crystal City 1953 614
Crystal City 1953 727
College Station 1953 317
Weslaco 1954 416
Weslaco 1954 346
Laredo 1954 495
Winter Haven 1954 443
Crystal City 1954 615
Weslaco 1955 502
Laredo 1955 324
Winter Haven 1955 510
Crystal City 1955 326
College Station 1955 207
Average 492

TABLE 10. YIELDS OF ONIONS GROWN ON"
INFESTED WITH THE PINK
FUNGUS, ZAPATA COUNTY

Yield per acre, 50-pound

Mildly infested Badly inf
Variety or pedigree soil soil <
1951-52 1952-_

Culls U. S. N0. I Culls U. S,‘
Texas Early Grano 502 121 507 136 3

Texas Early Grano 951 90
L-690 83 620 116
Granex 11 862 14
Excel 10 690 63
L-36 36
Eclipse (L-303) 9
Early Crystal 281 4 592 0
L-365 39 852 93
Excel x L-281 0 621 40
Excel x L-303 13
Excel x L-365 4 955 21
Crystal Wax 319 183 324
Yellow Bermuda 274 307 362
L.S.D., 5 percent 112 146 49
L.S.D., 1 percent 147 192 57

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.. search project represents the procedures for attacking a specific problem within a program. 5

   
   
  
  
   
   
   
  
    
   
  

State-wide Reisearc '
*  

The Texas Agricultural Experiment Stati:
is the public agricultural research agéri

Location of field research units in Texas main- of the State oi Texas‘ and is one of '
tained by the Texas Agricultural Experiment 
Station and cooperating agencies parts oi the Texas  College Syst ,

'1

IN THE MAIN STATION, with headquarters at College Station, are 16 subject-matter departments, 22?
departments, 3 regulatory services and‘ the administrative staff. Located out in the major agricultural
of Texas are 21 substations and 9 field laboratories. In addition, there are 14 cooperating stations __
by other agencies. Cooperating agencies include the Texas Forest Service, Game and Fish Commi 
Texas, Texas Prison System, U. S. Department of Agriculture, University of Texas, Texas Technologi
lege and the King Ranch. Some experiments are conducted on farms and ranches and in rural homes, l

RESEARCH BY THE TEXAS STATION is organized by programs and projects. A program of research
sents a coordinated effort to solve the many problems relating to a common objective or situation. 

THE TEXAS STATION is conducting about 350 active research projects, grouped in 25 programs w ':
clude all phases of agriculture in Texas. Among these are: conservation and improvement of so'_
servation and use of water in agriculture; grasses and legumes for pastures, ranges, hay, conservati
improvement of soils; grain crops; cotton and other fiber crops; vegetable crops; citrus and other s
cal fruits, fruits and nuts; oil seed crops—other than cotton; ornamental plants—including turf; b 
weeds; insects; plant diseases; beef cattle; dairy cattle; sheep and goats; swine; chickens and turkel“
mal disease and parasites; fish and game on farms and ranches; farm and ranch engineering; fa
ranch business; marketing agricultural products; rural home economics; and rural agricultural ecoi
Two additional programs are maintenance and upkeep‘, and central services. A

.
RESEARCH RESULTS are carried to Texas farm and ranch owners and homemakers by specialists and j
agents of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. ' ‘A