Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-06-09
A POOR CROP OUTLOOK.

Massachusetts crop conditions are
not radically different from those in
other parts of New England, and for
that reason there will be general in
terest hereabouts in the statement of
the secretary of the Massachusetts
board of agriculture that the loss in
crops this year Will probably average
So an acre over 100000 acres of i'm
proved land in that stae. The princi-
pal cause for this dubious crop out
look is said to be the exceptionally
late spring with its excessive rainfall.
The difficulty began with the long,
late winter, snow remaining into
April, thus delaying frost from com
ing out of the ground and preventing
the ground from drying out. Then
came the heavy and quite constant
rains, delaying planting still further,
especially on low lands. Reports re-
ceived from many sections of Massa
chusetts are generally to the effect
that the season is from two to three
weeks late and that in many instances
seeds have rotted in the ground and
a second planting has been necessary.
But this is not the only difficulty
that the farmers have had to face.
The labor problem is growing more
and more serious. Both the market
gardeners near the large cities and
the farmers in the more rural districts
report that it is almost impossible TO
hire help. The only result is that in
such instances the farmers are not
planting the ordinary crops, although
they have no difficulty in finding a
ready market for almost anything
they can raise. The fertilizer situa-
ton is By no means pleasing. Nitrate
of soda is very scarce and potash can
not be bought, because of the war.
Even if the weather conditions and
the labor situation had been good this
spring the farmer would have had a
hard row to hoe. Last year was bad
one for agriculturists, due principally
to the dry spring and the heavy rains
which followed in July and August.
Many farmers carried over debts from
last year and some of them have
been unable even to pay their seed and
fertilizer bills of 1915. Consequently,
they feel unable to go ahead contract
ing more debts, in some instances evel
being unable to do 50.
Large growers of corn say that the
planting has been unsatisfactory. This
is especially true where the seed has
been planted on heavy land. In such
instances the seed has come up very
irregularly and replanting has been
necessary. Some farmers, however
who have high, sandy land have had
better success. The planting of early
peas has not been very encouraging
The crop generally is exceptionally
late because the ground is so cold
The asparagus crop is the poorest il
years, due to the cold weather.
Reports from the Connecticut valley
doing we'll. This is a crop that cur
stand considerable water. 1t is too
early yet to make any statement will
regard to the outcome of the tobacco
crop in that section. The strawberry
crop is promising. There was heavy
blow, and the berries are forming
well.
The hay crop promises to be one o.
the best in years, providing, of course
that the harvest is dry and fair. i
has been an exceptionally good season
for dairying. The pastures every
!, where are green, the cattle having al
t the grass they can eat. Generally
spea king, green feeding in the barr
is unnecessary.
The apple crop promises to be good
. Seldom has there been a better bloom
j, than this spring.
n