On 23/3/43 a small experiment was sown with commercial onion seed at Kirton, being one of a series laid down at county oentres in order to study the effect of different times of lifting on the development of wastage in store. Four varieties, which may be designated A, B, R, U, were sown in strips of three rows 10in. apart, in triplicate, the rows being 41 yards long and forming three randomised blocks. The liftings were also in randomised block pattern, 3 × 3, across the length of the rows. Two sub-plots of each variety were taken for convenience, consisting of adjacent six-foot lengths across the three rows, the produce of each sub-plot being put into a separate box immediately on lifting.