The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-07-29
The Crops of The State.

HAKassuEs, July s4-From returns of
correspondents and from other sources, Sec
retary Edge, of the State Board Of Agricul-
ture. has prepared the following crop fore
cast for 1891
WHEAT-As indicated by our previous re-
ports, this crop has proven TO be one Of the
largest for a number ofyears Il may safely
be estimated at - 10000 bushels As usual
We have had many extraysgsnt estimates
and reported yields, but We feel safe, from
reports received, tOplace the total crop at the
above figures. Lancaster and Montgomery
counties have reported crops Of over 40 bush
els per acre, but these cannot be accepted as
an average for the counties. The average
yield Of the State Is much reduced By the
Lorthern tier of counties, in which wheat Is
not much depended on for crop. The
grain has usually been harvested in good
condition. but some losses have been report
ed from grain taken into the barn
when too wet. These are, however, trivial.
and viii not operate on or Affect the general
average.
OArs---lt is rather too soon to make any
safe or conclusive predictions as to this crop,
and it is not yet all harvested. II is, howev-
er, safe, from data at hand, to. place it
about an average crop. Wet weather during
spring delayed seeding and materially de-
creased the yield. Cool weather during the
early part Of the season delayed growth and
in many cases gave the weeds start, and
grain suffered accordingly. The large lot
Of weeds which are 10 be found in many
fields will probably cause more or less heat
ing in the NOW, and we may have to report
some loss from this cause Repeated show
ers during harvest have somewhet ruined
the straw in the eastern part of the State.
but the grain. though in some places dark
ened, is all right
HA.Y-Our former predictions that the
hay crop for 1891 would be an average one
met with opposition from many Of the far
mers Of Southern and Southeastern Penn
sylvania, but We think that the harvest has
fully sustained our estimate. Those who de-
pend on clover as a hay crop have Of course
harvested short crops over nearly the whole
State. In such fields as gave timothy the
main place, the crop has varied somewhat,
and in the South and Southeast may be sta
ted as below the average. Our Western and
Northern counties made up the deficiency.
But it was the crops Of natural grass which
raised the general average of the State, and
warranted our prediction of a fair average
crop. In the northern counties Of our State
the meadows and fields ofnatural grass gave
an excellent crop.
PoTAToEs-In common parlanee this crop
has been spotted" one. In some portions
of the State, where rain and other conditions
Of the weather were favorable, the early
crop did well, but in some parts Of our State
il proved short and unsatisfactory. The
crop Of late tubers will prove an excellent
one, and at the present time the main danger
is from rot following warm rains, succeeded
by hot sunshine Should the crop escape
this danger, it will prove an excellent one,
and the increase in acreage will place il
above the average, and possibly give Us
II 100000 bushels. Failures Of this crop
elsewhere may keep the price up, and excel
lent crops in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
and Cape Breton will act as balance wheel
to regulate the price Of the Pennsylvania
crop in the market. No report Of rot has
yet been received from our correspondents,
although the newspapers have reported
some loss from this cause
LARGE FRurTs-The crop of large fruits
either actual or prospective, will be one of
the largest for a number of years The
crop has proven somewhat irregular in
yield, but any falling off in one part Of our
State has been more than conterbalanced by
large ones in others Peaches will give an
excellent crop, and the peach growers in the
South Mountain district and in the newly
planted orchards of Juniata county will
harvest remuneratiye crop in spite of the
low prices expected from the crops in New
Jersey and Delaware. The local demand
viii support the price for good fruit picked
in its best condition, and this cannot be sup
piled from the markets named in the above
States. Local demand will support the local
~
remuneratiye prices, no matter what the
ruling price may be near railroad stations
and other points easy Of access to foreign
crops. The apple crop viii be fair average
one, and fall apples will command a fair
price in the general market of our State
If our growers could only be persuaded to
consult their own interests and Gull closely,
they would not only get better prices for
their crops. but would also gain the culls left
at home. Pears will prove an unusual crop
and are aleeady coming into marke, in fair
condition. Thus far, as has been the case
heretofore, they are not eulled close enough,
and lower prices are and will be received.
SMALL FRUrs-The 1891 crop of almost
all kinds of small fruits viii prove a phe-
one, and that of blackberries will
long be remembered by the Pennsylvania
housewife. Grapes will prove an average
crop, but it is TO our other small fruits that
we look for the raise in the average.