Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-10
BILLION BUSHELS CAIN
IN CHIEF FOOD CROPS
Thrilling Response Is Made by Amor
lean Farmers to President
Wilson's Plea.
SEVERAL NEW HIGH RECORDS
Corn Production Is Next Largest IN
History, and Wheat Will Go 49,
100000 Bushels Over Last Year.
Tobacco Also at Top Figure.

WASHINGTON, July "a billion
bushels increase over last years pro-
duction in tho principal food crops Is
the response American farmers have
made to President Wilson's mid April
appeal. saying that upon them rests
the fate Of the war and the fate Of the
nations"
Tho extent OF the rarmers' response
was disclosed to-day when a produce
ton Of 6.0s3.000.000 bushels Of prin-
cipal food crops was forecast in the
Department of Agriculturea July crop
report. II shows this years corn crop
Will be the largest in history. except
that four. and possibly five. other
crops will mako new high records.
Tho corn crop. which with favorable
weather from now on may equal the
record Yield Of 1912. shows an increase
OF 6+l.ooo.ooo bushels over last year.
with total of 3,124,oO0,O00. The
acreage Is IA per cent larger last year.
The combined winter and spring
wheat crop will he 100000 bushels
moro than last years. with total OF
678.o00.0 900 bushels.
Barley. with prospects of the third
largest crop ever grown, will exceed
last years production by 100000
bushels, with an output OF 214.00o.000
bushels.
IMPROVEMENT EXPECTED
TO CAUSE RECORD CROP
Oats promise to exceed last years
crop by 2o1.00o.ooo bushels. the total
production being forecast at l.453.0oO.-
900 bushels. That is slightly under
tho record. Improvement between now
and harvest. however. may result in a
record crop.
White potato production. on a % 1-2
per cent increase in acreage. will be
a record crop with 452.ooo.ooo bushels.
or ls7.oo0.0oo bushels more than last
year. not taking into account the home
garden production, which this year Is
estimated to be much larger than ever
before.
Rye. another record crop this year,
will amount to 56.l0o.o00 bushels, or
100000 bushels more than last year
Sweet potatoes will register a new
high total with s2.2oo.ooo bushels or
100000 bushels more than las, year.
Rice production will he 34.40o.ooo
bushels the second largest crop ever
produced.
Production of tobacco will break an
other record. with crop OF 1.ol5.ooo.-
600 pounds, which is Ga 100000 pounds
AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
EXPLAINS CONDITIONS
In statement explains conditions,
the Department of Agriculture said:
"A heavy increase in acreage OF
corn Is noted. amounting to over IA
per cent of last years area. much of
tho increase being on land not former
ly cultivated, and the bulk OF the re-
mainder on abandoned wheat lands
and acreage formerly devoted to hay.
' The growth .is several weeks late, but
the seed was generally of superior
quality.
The corn crop suffered from drought
in the Gulf Central States, but else
where moisture is sufficient or in e1-
cess. and the crop now promised, 81
12+,0000o0 bushels. is greater by a
slight margin than the largest pre-
vious crop. The crop is slightly below
the ten-year average condition. due %
It's lnteness.
The stands OF winter wheat have
thickened up surprisingly. and the
heads in almost all sections are heavy
The growth during the month has
made an Improvement. representing r.
gain of 100000 bushels. this being
far In excess OF what was expected or
Is ordinarily experienced. The i'm
provement was general. with the OK
ception Of a few States Early har-
vested grain in the Southwest has turn
ed out much better than anticipated
Spring wheat has declined in con-
ditton materially. owing to frost and
dryness in North Dakota and unfavor-
able conditions in some of the West
ern States. The condition of the win
ter and spring wheat crop combined.
gives promise OF a yield greater by
100000 bushels than was anticipat-
ed last month"
FORECASTS OF CoUNTRY's
PRINCIPAL CROPS
Production forecasts Of the princi-
pal crops. announced to-day Expressed
in millions Of bushels) follow:
Winter wheat. 400; spring wheat,
27s: all wheat. 67S: corn. 1924: oats,
1883; barley. 214; white potatoes. SCI;
rye. 452; sweet potatoes, S22; tobacco
(pounds). 1.215; flax. IT; rice, s14: hay
(tons). 1903: apples. 200; peaches. 435.
First announcer of areas plant
ed lin thousands OF acres). follows:
Corn. 121.045: white potatoes, 1884:
sweet potatoes. so4: tobacco 1,41S;
fax. 1899; rice. s6S.
Wheat remaining on farms July 1,