French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-05-17
CROP OUTLOOK.

O4SOA aEH#Ea
The freezing weather during Febru
airy. followed by a wet March. q pu
farmers behind with the spring work
Much blowing was done last fall AM
in the early winter, and those VIII
took advantage Of the opportunity OF
fered al tina time. are the ones who ar
now forging ahead.
There is, however, time enough
good weather prevailing, to prepare
land and plant crops and large crops
1T is the patriotic duty of every one
who can secure the use of a plot Of
land, to plant food crops. We are ac-
tua1ly at war. not with one, but with
at least two of the strongest military
powers in the world. These two pow
ers, Germany and Austria-Hungary,
with their allies, have vast resources
and compose the most highly develop
ed agricultural portions of Europe. It
is their ability to produce food that
makes them able to fight the greater
part Of the world. Unless we produce
food to feed ~ourseles and help to feed
Our allies, our guns and ships and
money will not be able to achieve a
victory,
The man who produces a crop this
year will serve his country just as
well as the nan who carries a rifle.
Those who plow, plan and cultivate
should feel that hey are rendering the
greatest of service to their country,
and it should be so recognized by the
government authorities.
Tho oUnTa 90 condition nf winter
wheat, on April 1, was 63.4 per cent.
of a normal, against 1873 on April l.,
1916, 1873 on April I, 1915, nd 1872, the
average condition for the past ten !
years on April 1. Here was a del
crease in condition from December 1,
1916, to April 1, 1917, of 1913 points,
as compared with an average decline
in the past ten yers of 10 points be-
tween these dates. Upon the assump-
ton of average abandonment of acre
age and average influences on the crop
to harvest, condition April 1 forecasts
a production of about 430, 600, 1000 bush
els, which compares with 481, 744, 900
bushels, the estimated production in
1916 and 673, 947 900 in 1915.
The average condition of rye on
April 1 was $50 per cent. of a normal,
against 87.8 on April 1, 1916, 89.5 on
April 1, 1915, and 396, the average
condition for the past ten years on
April /.
The condition of rye forecasts a pro-
duction of approximately 100000
bushels; last years estimated produc-
ton was 47,383,0 900 bushels; the 1915
crop 5 ,O50, 900, and the average of the
preceding five years, 37,568,000 bush
els.
From the above estimates it will be
seen that unless the winter wheat
crop improves very much between now
and harvest time, there will be but
more than foul bushels per cap
tia produced. The winter oat crop is
a total failure this year. Much clover
and grass was killed by the hard
Not only are we dependent
upon spring planted crops for human
food, but largely for forage for our 1
animals. In our territory, we urge
all farmers to plant as much land in
corn, potatoes, beans nd Ginning crops
as possible. In the tobacco growing {
section, we do not advice planting no
but we do advise cutting down
acreage and planting more land
food crops. These food crops will {
bring as much or more money and it {
will be helping to win the greatest l
most awful val in the worlds his
DRY. Let us hope and pray that it !
will be the last.-Southern Planter. !
L