Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-04-16
CROP PROSPECTS
IN Lower Counties
County Agent Says Acreage
in Sussex May be Less
Than 1916
PLACE BLAME ON
LABOR SCARCITY

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
NEWARK. April 16.-Reports re-
ceived by Dean Harry Hayward, OF
the Delaware College Experiment
Station, from the county agents in
Kent and Sussex counties relative 10
prospects for crops in those counties
this year. are of unusual interest be-
cause of the campaign that is being
waged for an increase in the produc-
zion of all crops to meet the extra
demand and the possible shortage
owing 20 the war; In both counties
the agents report a shortage of labor,
but give the opinion that the acre
age of most crops will be about the
same as last year In Sussex county,
however, it may be slightly less, be-
cause OF a shortage of labor and in
creased cost of fertilizers.
County Agent II. II. Zimmerly, of
Kent county. reports as follows:
1. Shortage in agricultural labor
based on total needed 20 per cent.
2 Average price paid for day
labor $3.50 per day.
g. Average price paid month labor,
$22 to S25 and board.
think they could afford to pay for
labor varies from $3.50 to 81, de-
pending on the nature of the work
and the ability of the laborer
3. Increase in wheat acreage about
10 per cent over last year.
6. Intended acreage in sweet po-
tatoes, 20 per cent. over last year.
Z. Intended acreage in tomatoes,
s. Intended acreage in corn. about
the same as last year.
Q. Intended acreage in white po-
tatoes. about same as last year.
10 Intended acreage in cabbage,
about 30 per cent less than last
wear. This is due to scarcity Of
plants. which are usually secured
from the south. None available on
account of freeze.
II. Slightly more fertilizer is be-
ing used than last year on account
Of the increased acreage in tomatoes.
The fertilizer on the average runs
lower in nitrogen than last year on
account of the increased cost of
nitrogen. Very little nitrogen is be-
ing bought for the corn crop. A
few growers are nitrating wheat
fields this spring.
u. Meadow land is being used for
increased acreage in tomatoes.
County Agricultural Agent w c.
Pelton. Of Sussex county, submitted
the following report.
"As elsewhere in the State NJ
doubt. the season has been very lat
in this county. and work is badl!
behind. So far as l have seen there
has been no great reduction Of croI
prospects on account Of conditions
during the winter. Scarlet clover, ex
'cept in certain localities which scenes
TO be unusually favored. is poor, partl
due to inferior seed used and partl
to drought during the late summer
The alfalfa acreage is not larg
enough to have any influence. Ry
is a short crop.
Averages Of clover are smalle
than usual; those of wheat probabl
somewhat larger; white potatoe
smaller; sweet potatoes about III
same the cost of fertilizers havin
acted as a check on the heavy plant
ing that would normally result afte
a year Of high prices; tomatoes n
larger If not actually smaller; mos
truck crops about the same; frui
trees promising a heavy crop if frost
hold off.
"The labor situation is very alarm
ing. for addition to the normal migra
ton of young men to the cities an
the rather abnormal movement tn
last few years on account OF goo
wages in the munition plants. roa
construction is under way that wi
a
Eng country. Moreover, il the couI
cry road system is begun, more laDc
will be required, and this project
one that should not be delayed, II Il
no more than military reasons. tn
local papers have reported attempt
to get farm labor in this section
$40 a month and board, none bein
available at that figure. One of II
largest farmers in this section, WI
should be able to hold labor If an
one could, was in the Office recent
inauiring what to do with lars
acreage of land to save cultivate
This summer. This general feelin
that crop increases will be limited
lack of help is the biggest hindan'
in the way OF recommending sue
increase. There will undoubtedly
some idle land this year on accoul
of shortage OF labor. hut the decrea'
in crop will probably not be in pr
norton TO the decrease in acreag
since the cost of fertilizers as We
as labor scarcity has caused the d
crease, and the land actually till
therefore may be able to make up f
the decrease, or part of it, by 7
ceiving heavier dressings Of fernli
ers than would be possible on a no
nal acreage.
"Feeling as I do that it is not
best policy this year to talk too mu
about increasing acreages both becal
of the lack Of help and also because
n common feeling among the farme