The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-06-14
NEW ENGLAND CROP OUTLOOK.
Farmers Holding Averages Well Up to
Those of Last Year-Gains in Oats,
Rye and Silage Corn.

Field Agent V. A. Sanders of the de-
partment of agriculture has issued the
following report regarding the condition
of New England crops:
In spite of short labor supply and cold
wet spring, New England farmers are
holding their crop acreages well up to
those of last year The hay acreage, de-
creased from the usual about 10 per cent
due to increased tillage during the war,
required that more hay substitute crops
be grown. Oats and rye as hay crops,
show considerable gains this season, and
silage corn will probably show a full, or
larger acreage. Although planted late, or
yet to be planted in some cases, most
crops are good stand and have made a
good start, urged on by the hot spell last
week.
Spring wheat acreage has declined
generally. In per cent of last year Maine
has rs and Vermont rs. The other
states show heavier decreases, but the
acreage is quite small Winter wheat,
too, has decreased rapidly. The growing
condition is IS in Maine and 95 in Yer
mont, and is good elsewhere.
Dat acreage in per cent of last year:
Maine, 100; New Hampshire, 100; Yer
mont, l02; Massachusetts, 100; Rhode
Island, 9S; Connecticut, l04. Growing
condition is generally good 93 per cent
in Connecticut to IS per cent in New
Hampshire.
Rye growing condition is generally
goods in Vermont, 80 in Massachu-
sets and % in Connecticut
Apples: Last season the trees set heav-
sly with fruit buds and those wintered
well so that a generally full blossom is
reported. Cold, wet, gloomy weather in
many sections, however, made the bios
som period unfavorable for pollination.
The growing condition figures are:
Maine, "a; New Hampshire 90; Yer
mont, 80; Massachusetts, o.; Rhode Is
land, 90; Connecticut, 90 Enough fruit,
in most cases for nearly full crop has
set, but heavy drop may follow
Hay has generally made nearly nor
NAL growth but lacks body and was
checked on light soils by the hot dry
period last week. Condition figures are !:
Maine, 90; New Hampshire, 100; Yer
mont, l0l; Massachusetts, 100; Rhode
Island, %; Connecticut, 90.
Glover hay-Acreage Of clover alone is
quite small, although perhaps slowly in
creasing as more lime is used Clover in
mixture with other grasses is much more
important The acreage is not much
changed from that of last year; and the
growing condition is excellent.
Alfalfa acreage is yet small generally
except in Vermont, which has several
hundred acres; but the growing condi.
ton is excellent.
Pasture has made good growth, the
condition fig es being: Maine, 90; New
Hampshire, 49, Vermont, l0l Massa-
chusetts, 100; Rhode Island, %; Con-
nectieut. 9S.
Field peas, sown in mixture with oats
or other grain for hay are gaining slowly
in acreage generally.
Dry beans-The large number of fail.
ures in 1917 and 1918 due to the killing
frosts; the low prices and the poor mar
ket have reduced the acreage heavily;
and not much surplus will be grown ex-
cept by farmers who do so regularly
Peaches-Generally blossomed heavily;
but the bearing capacity of the trees, in
some sections, was considerably reduced
by the winter of 1917 and 1918 The
condition figure and forecast of produc-
ton in bushels is; New Hampshire, SO
per cent, 10000; Massachusetts, rs per
cent, 10000; Connecticut, 20 per cent
LAT 900. In Rhode Island the condition
is SO.
Pears-Condition figures are: Maine,
IS; New Hampshire, s5 Vermont, SO;
Massachusetts, So; Rhode Island, 90;
Connecticut, So.
Berries Generally promise good
crop. Strawberries are beginning to rip
en- in southern New England and sell at
40 cents per box.