The Jersey City news., 1903-07-15
FARMERS ANXIOUS
Condition Of the Crops Ser
ious in Every Part Of
North Jersey.
EARLY PRODUCE RUINED
Late Yields May Be Better
Situation In Richfleld,
Fairfield and Pine
Park.
EARLY PRODUCE RUINED

49,
On Thursday North Jersey had had
over wek of sunshine, but the vegeta-
bles and other garden products do not
seem to have been benefited by it, as
many people hoped they would be. The
country people, however, are living in
hope, and say that although the clear
weather has come rather late, they
think it will save their later crops, says
the Newark Sunday Call
These last two months have been very
trying ones for those who depend upon
the tilling Of the soil for their livelihood,
and many have almost given up the
struggle to save their crops. In May the
farmer watched their plants wither and
dry up under the glare of the hot sun,
and then when the long drouth was
broken they saw the torrents of rain ap-
parently complete the deadly work of the
previous month Many agriculturists in
this section of New Jersey say that it is
doubtful whether there will even be a
fair amount of late vegetables. The early
crops in thes parts have been almost en-
tire failures, and those that are usually
marketed now will be gathered much
later In some sections where the farms
Il
are on high ground, as in Richtield and
the vicinity, the gardens lcok WELL for
the rain has had chance to run off, but
those farms that have not this advantage
look verys poor.
Last Monday reporter for the Sun
dav "Ca-l" maze Trip through the farm
ing localities that supply Newark with
the numerous varieties of vegetables seen
in Centre market His purpose was to
find outs if possible, the exact conditions
of the seasons crops. The first places
visited We're Richfeld and Brookdale,
where some of the largest truck farms
are situated Through this section the
plapts looked healthy, but small, and the
fields had the appearance of being but
sparsely sown. The pea vines were
not more than a foot high on any of the
farms, and the gardeners say that they
We're nearly a total failure. Paintings
producing twenty EIGHT to thirty bushels
of peas at a picking last year are bearing
only seven or eight this season.
Through these sections and Pine Brook,
Clinton and Fairfield (the other places
visited, the paintings of string beans and
potatoes all looked. luxuriant and seemed
to be growing well. A few of the far
mers have already begun to pick their
string beans, but the majority expect to
begin their marketing next week.
Caulihower and head LETTUCE are fail
ures everywhere. Neither vegetable
has headed at all, and the farmers have
been obligd to plow them up. This is
also true of the early cabbage, great
| deal of which is grown in Richfeld The
farmers around Pine Brook do not raise
any.
Early corn. like the caulihower and
cabbage has also failed to grow, and
the farmers have sustained very heavy
losses on this account, for it generally
brings a good price, and can be usually
depended upon to yield in abundance.
Mr.. De Baum has large patch Of late
corn on his farm in Fairfield, that is now
about three feet above the ground. but
this is about the only planting that was
anywhere near it's usual growth Some
of the corn planted in May is now only
| eight to ten inches high, and at the rate
| it is growing it will hardly yield before
September. The drouth has been the prin.
cipal cause for the failure of this crop,
| it having dried up the young shoots.
| As a general rule North Jersey toma.
toes are ready for marketing near the
first of July. but this year they Will
hardly be suitable for picking much be.
! fore August The plants even then will
not bear anywhere near their annual
crop, for the heavy rains have washed
off many of the blossoms.
Eggplant and peppers, both Of which
are usually msrkcted iE this section du.
ring July, will also be delayed until An
gust. Through Clinton and Pine Brook
/ the SQUASH vines are in blossom. and
some small squashes can also be seen
These. with the lima beans. cucumbers
and onions. do not seem to have suffered
at all from the weather. The fruit crop
is very doubtful. and the outlook for the
North Jersey supply is gloomy. Tie late
frost IN April which was quite sheavy in
the northern part Of the State. blasted
many of'the blossoms It killed The cher.
ry crop, land there seem to be but few
Dpeaches On the trees. ii some sections
where the frost was not 50 severe it il