Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-17
VIRGINIA WHEAT, OATS
AND HAY ARE ALL RIGHT
Richmond Merchants Are Receiving
Gratifying Reports OF Crops Being
Harvested in All Parts OF State.
SPECIAL AGENT CONFIRMS 1T
Wheat Crop 0C Per Cent OF Normal.
Twcnty.Onc Million Bushels Being
Cut--Oat Crop Said to Be Best III
Years.


Cut---Oat Crop Said to Be Best In
Years.
n OF Rchmond's business men,
specially the wholesale merchants.
manufacturers and miliers. arc just
now very much interested in crop pros
poets throughout the state OF Virginia
and in the other states which trade
With Richmond. They are receiving
most encouraging reports from all
narts OF Virginia and the Carolinas
These good reports just now bear
largely upon the wheat crop, which is
beginning to be cut. 1t will be graft
Tying to them to know that the good
news they have been hearing for "A
weak or more past is confirmed by II.
A Jones the chief OF the field service
of the United States Bureau OF Crop
Estimates. Owing 10 the illness OF
Victor II. Clmstcad, who is the special
field agent for Virginia. with head
quarters at Clarendon Mr.. Jones has
made tour for Mr. Oimstead of tho
grain fields in nearly every part of
Virginia and from the Clarendon Office
he has just issued the following good
news bulletin:
Providence is generously supple
mcnting the patriotic cndeavors Of the
farming communities and favoring the
forces OF democracy in the promise o:
the United States. Among the great
agricultural States. Virginia this year
stands high. Despite period of cold
and rainy weather during April, which
held back farm work, but at the same
time favored the development Of grains
and grasses, and Notwithstanding the
handicap OF labor shortage, which is
exceedingly severe In some sections,
particularly those tributary TO Norfolk.
greater acreage of crops is promised
Than last year or in any previous year
ne history OF the State.
''armers and members or their
miles are working ha RIDER and far
l. niger hours. and residents OF the rural
Lotions and towns who ordinarily are
otherwise occupied. are this year shar-
ing in the la bors OF the field in order
20 produce the needed food for our
boys at the front, FOR the allies who
are fighting our battles and for the
multitudes stricken and made helpless
in Belgium and elsewhere by the storm
Of war. In the rural sections OF Vir-
Sinia many faithful wives may be seen
working beside their husbands and
blooming schoolgirls bravely taking
the places OF their soldier brothers at
farm tasks.
Wheat is reported at 96 percent OF
normal. md If conditions from now UNI
I'll harvest shall prove reasonably IA
vorable it is estimated that Virginia
Will with her present large acreage.
produce about 2loOO,0Ud bushels OF
wheat. by far the greatest crop ever
produced within her borders The
crop last year was estima ted at slight
~ below 100000 and the average for
the previous FIVE years at about 1900
900 bushels. This state in the census
year 1903 produced about 100000
bushels, which scarcely supplied her
own needs. This year, from present
indications, she Will be able not only
TO feed herself and provide for next
years paintings but to spare more
;han half OF her crop, or in excess OF
lc.oocooO bushels, 20 meet the agoniz-
inc need elsewhere
While the crop has suffered some
what from dryness in the northern por-
lion o! the State, IL remains good even
there. and its condition is above normal
In 'h+ Western and southwestern dis
tricts. and excellent. or At least good.
IN al! other districts.
OF the Virginia oat crop Mr.. Joncs
reports:
me desire TO produce sufficient feed
crops 10! home reeds has led to an IN
crease IN the acreage o. oats in recent
Gears. after a long period o. years
o. declining acreage. Tne large acre
age Of GOOD crops last year vas ac
companied By slight setback in this
tendency. but this year oats are shar
ing with The food crops in the move
nent for increased paintings. though
not 10 the same extent Five per cen,
increase over last year IS shown. which
brings total increase sine. the las,
United states census ~ abou. J.. nor
cent. The present 236 900 acres is FAR
below the paintings In the eighties.
when the State was credited with AL
most Three A;iines that area The
presen; condition report. the frs, OF
,he season, SHOWS 81, which is mnch
h'EheE than the condition at this date
In any recent year. Even in the
northern counties where dryness has
reduced the condition. to S. II Is higher
than in previous years The central
and east central districts r"por, con
ditions below 90 All others are above
90 and The southwest reports 10. pe-
cent Of normal, g!viuc pro-nis. ,hnre
o! bumper crop Vale the acr.,ya
is only moderately increased over tina;
IN the census year. the production. ac-
coFc!ng 10 resent promise. should be
almost couole the crop OF tina, year.
greater by $4,000 bushels than las,
year ana l.l37.0tc bushels IN excess ~
'he average crop OF the preceding FIVE
years
As TO hay, MIR Jones says:
me condition Of hay is reported a,
20 per cent Of normal. which ia IA
h.bher than last scar n this date. and
is above the hve-year average Upon
me present $4,000 acres. ; per cent
greater ihan last year, this ndIc,,ns
yield OF Ia tons per acre. and a
Total production OF 1893 600 tong com.
pared with crop slightly under ! 900.
wv Ions last year, ana a iiye-year aver.
ase OF about 100000 tons.
Inc total hay crop Of tho United
Itates IL forecast at 10000 600 tons
the hFe-year average is G5.3TI 900 tons