The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-10-31
Federal Onion
Grades Revised
Principal Change Is That
Minimum Size Shall Be
One and a Half Inches.


prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture.)
Revisions in the United States
grades for northern-grown onions have
been announced by the United States
Department Of Agriculture.
The principal change is the separ-
alton of size and grade with the pro-
vision that unless otherwise specified
the minimum size shall be IA inches.
If quotations are made on the basis
Of U. S. No. 1 without any under
standing as to a minimum size, it
should be assumed that the minimum
size is ia inches.
u. S. No. l grade now includes spec
lications as to firmness, maturity and
shape. A limitation has also been
placed upon the amoun of decay in
connection with the usual tolerance
which Is allowed to cover mistakes
which happen In the course Of trad
ing and handling.
The revised grades are as follows /:
v. S. No. I.
U. S. No. l shall consist of onions
OF similar varietal characteristics
which are firm, mature, well shaped,
free from doubles, splits, bottlenecks,
scallions, dirt, tops or other foreign
matter and from damage caused by
sprouting, freezing, disease, insects or
mechanical or other means. See size
classification.
In order to allow for variations in
cident to proper grading and nan
ding, not more than 5 per cent, by
weight, Of any lot may be below the
more than a total of two-ffths of this
tolerance or 2 per cent, may be al
lowed for onions which are affected
by decay.
U. S. No. 2 shall consist Of onions
which do not meet the requirements
of U. S. No. l.. See size classical
ton.
Unless otherwise specified the min
imum size shall be III inches in d.
ameter.' Onions may be classified for
size on the following basis:
Boilers, Y to Ia inches; small III
to TX inches; medium, IN to IN
large, over 2H inches.
In order to provide a class for very
large Spanish type onions grown In
localities, a very Large class
Is recommended for onions over 3
in diameter. Onions may also
be described as "Small to Medium or
Medium to Large" in accordance with
the facts.
In order to allow for variations in
to proper sizing, not more than
5 per cent, by weight, may be below
specified minimum size and in
addition. not more than 10 per cent,
by weight, may be larger than the
specified maximum size.
Definition Of Terms
AS Used in these grades:
Mature" means firm, dry and well
cured. Mid-season onions which are
lot customarily held in storage shall
De considered mature when harvested
n accordance with good commercial
practice at a stage which will not re-
;ult in the onions becoming soft or
"Well shaped" meal having the
shape characteristic of the variety, but
off-type or slightly misshapen
shall be admitted to U. S. No. /.
Doubles" and splits" are onions
which have developed more than one
bulb. All such onions which
re either distinctly m%isshapen or
which show a splitting Of the outer
shall be excluded from U. s.
70. l..
"Bottlenecks' are onions with alb
.ormally thick necks.
"Scallions'' are onions which have
hick necks and relatively small and
'oorly developed bulbs.
Diameter means the greatest d.
meter at right angles to a straight
ne running from the stem to the root
Minimum sizes other than Ia inches
be specified in connection with
he grade as ~. s.. No. 1, IL In min.