The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-05-10
FRUIT CROP
OUTLOOK GOOD
Peach Yield Expected to Be
100Per Cent. in Several COun.
Ties; Apples 81.
GRAIN PROSPECT NORMAL
Conditions Of the Winter Wheat ana
Rye In the Ground Gives Every
Indication Would Raise Almost
the Usual Crops.
Harrisburg.

Unusually bright prospects for the
1917 peach and apple crops are indi'
Gated in the April reports OF the crop
correspondents Of the Pennsylvania
Department OF Agriculture. The con-
dition of the peach blossoms indicates
splendid yields, and, while the coun'
try faces a shortage Of grain crops
the Pennsylvania orchards show every
promise OF a bumper fruit year.
While the United States faces
short wheat and rye crop, the condi-
ton OF the winter wheat and rye IN
the ground in Pennsylvania on April
j gave. every indication that, agricui.
turally the Keystone State would
again come forth in an emergency ana
raise almost a normal crop OF both
grains.
The prospect OF nomal peach crop
at this time a year ago was about 90
per cent, but present reports indicate
that the crop will be above so per
cent. OF normal for the entire state.
The percentage, however, will be
kreatly increased, as the peach dis
trict in Adams, Franklin, Bedford,
Cumberland and York counties indi-
Gates a yield Of almost 81 per cent.
of normal. This is a remarkable aver.
age for this time of the year, and
the largest peach crop ever known in
the history OF the State can be an
ticipated II late frosts and pests do
not create any damage. In Adams,
Franklin and York counties a 100 per
cent. crop is expected, while condi-
tions in Bedford county indicate a 80
per cent crop, and in Cumberland
county a 95 per cent. crop Many
new orchards in this district will come
into bearing during the present season
and increase the crop.
Frosts Damaged lowland Crops.
In the northern tier and some of the
central counties the heavy frosts
killed many of the buds on trees in
lowlands, and the prospects for large
crops have been materially lessened.
These counties are not important com,
mercial peach-growing districts. Coun'
ties where the Indications point to
less than 60 per cent. OF a normal
crop are: Allegheny, Armstrong, But
Ter, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, For
est, Greene, Jefferson, Lackawanna,
Lawrence, Venango. Westmoreland
and Wyoming.
Twenty-Five counties report that in.
dications are that the apple crop OF
1917 will be a normal one and the
general average for the State Is 81
per cent. Reports indicate that the
condition Of the apple trees and the
blossoms throughout the State are
splendid and that the April prospects
were II per cent ahead of the condi
ton at this time a year ago, when
there was promise OF about SO per
cent of normal yield. The southern
apple belt shows every indication OF
crop OF 100 per cent or better
while prospects in the northern tier
counties, famous for their Baldwins
are also close to the normal yield.
Grading Adds to Importance.
With the proposed new apple grad
ing and packing laws, which are now
before the Legislature, the coming sea
son promises to be one of the most i'm
portant commercially in the history o.
the State. Pennsylvania produces ap
pies that have no superior anywhere
in the country and, with standard
of grading, they will doubtless com
mand a big market throughout thu
country this year.
During March. the condition Of boti
wheat and rye in the State improved
materially, according to reports re
ceived by the Bureau OF Statistics o
the Pennsylvania Department OF Agri
culture Wheat showed an improve
ment Of per cent. and represented
80 per cent, as compared with al
average. In 1916 the condition o
wheat in the ground on April l wa
95 per cent, but the reports from thu
800 crop correspondents indicated
splendid growth and development ant
led to the hope OF almost an average
crop for harvest in the fall.
Expect Yield Slightly Short.
The big wheat producing countie
in the central and southeastern ent
of the State reported wheat in goo
condition and a great deal of the fea
OF heavy loss through the frosts Il
February and March was wiped ava
with the splendid growth that wa
shown in the fields. The number o
weeks OF snow protection for tn
grain ranged from four to 13, wit
the average OF the State about sever
State Grazing Plans.
Commissioner of Forestry Robert
Conklin issued instructions to the fol
esters and rangers of the Pennsy
vania Forest Service covering the us
of the State forests for grazing durin
the period of food shortage. Owing t
the fact that almost 25000,000 tree
have been planted on the State forest
at considerable cost permission 70
general grazing cannot be granted
and each application must be treate
separately However, sufficient are
remains in the 1,OOO,00O-acre preserv
to provide grazing
Raise Honey, Food Crisis Advice.
"Raise honey to take the place {
sugar" was the advice sounded by Prt
fessor H. A. Surface, head of the Stat
Bookkeepers' Association and forme
state zoologist, in a statement mad