Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-18
FEDERAL AGENT CLAIMS
State CROPS ARE SHORT
Report for July Shows Corn and
Wheat Production Far Below
Expectations.
TOBACCO is ALSO AFFECTED
Heavy Rains Responsible for Much
Damage in Agricultural Districts.
Much Improvement Recorded 1y
Growers OF Apples.

Much Improvement Recorded by
Growers OF Apples.
Virginia's 1919 crops are below the
average according to the report for
July which has just been made 10 the
United States Department Of Agricul
ture by the Federal agent in this
State. S. a. Jones.
Corn, wheat and tobacco are not liv-
ing up to expectations az reported in
the spring months. says Mr.. Jones. as
the rains which followed the drought
of carly July. wrought conside rabl
damage. The review OF conditions in
the State follows:i
for Virginia. Needed rains relieved
drouShty conditions at mid month, but
V while saving the situation the down
81 ten days tho damage chargcable TO
o onis excess OF good thing all but
Corn was saved from the drought.
Put could not be worked and many
nelds are very needy. Much corn and
low grounds Of the state were drowned,
washed out or thrown down. Tobacco
was Injured terribly. and is now a
sorry crop. Large quantities OF cut
nay rotted on the ground or grew over
ripe. ana suffered serious damage. The
wheat. already sorely afflicted by
freezes. rust. scab and blight, suffered
mai handicap of harvest damage
man MAJ, sections reporting the grain
oats likewise suffered and fruits and
Vegetables registered declines OF from
I'VE to twenty below last months
Corn Crops Questionable.
Corn now promises a yield OF TWEEN
ty-seven bushels per acre which would
mean Il crop OF 5l,300.000 bushels, 57O.-
900 less than promised a month ago.
ana about 100000 less than realized
last year. The crop is not yet made,
hf1w%sver and may improve or decline.
great asset The crop in the North
Is aiin"st perfect. and in the Yves, and
SSoutnwest Is very good. Elsewhere ii
Wheat promises about 100000
bushels. a very disappointing figure
poo bushels from the May | condition.
;Treext s II is far from failure.
to ms sbgS aah c6o o1o wnea, is
IL IS about 100000 bushels less ;han
was produced in the state last year.
Tobacco has fallen in the central
being off about from las, months
nsure: In the Southern district, the
20 to figure around 60 per cent OF
normal. The present conditions for
os!d bright yellow. IL is down about
State of l227s7 900 pounds, a decline
from last months promise OF about
os,nou.VvV pounds. This condition
from the affects of the tremendous
beating and flooding rains of the last
few, reports Of damage from disease.
probably contingent upon the wet
Hny Condition Falls.
Tho condition OF hay has fallen
during the month from 80 to 81 and the
promise OF total crop Itss reduced con
siderablE. doubtless as result, OF the
~ a r. i,h
good hay and prevented the harvest
ing OF many fields until over ripe and
badly injured This figure covers all
tame nay including the grasses. clover
returns Indicate crop OF 1927. 800
tons. Conditions improved in the
eastern and southeastern districts and
remain the same in the southwest,
but fell off considerably in the heavy
producing districts OF the north, west
and center.
Pasture is magnificent over p-ac-
ticaNy all Of the state as a result Of
the abundant rains
Peas and beans show a decline in
condition.
Peanuts have fallen off some from
rain damage.
crop. as reported las: month, being
so per cent OF normal which is below
the figure o. the average year.
sweet potatoes are doing very we'll,
ported last month. which is above the
average for this date.
"Watermelons were affected dsas-
trously and muskmelons were also in
jured seriously.
Apple Crop Improves.
Apples in Virginia made distinct
Improvement during July, the con
dition figure rising from so 10 IS.
Very marked Improvement occurred
in some OF the commercial counties.
less tlaan last year by 10 per cent.
the decrease being principally in the
Winchester and lower Shenandoah
Valley sections OF the state. There is
crop about Roanoke. The sections
which have shown an increase are
Neison land adjoining counties. also
Augusta County and the district about
Staunton. which shows an increase Of
% per cent: Virginia now promises
to ship 1.5oS.o0o barrels as compared
with 1I766.oo0 barrels last year, or
SIS per cent OF last years crop
I'm the Piedmont district OF Viz
ginia- including the Roanoke section.
a crop Of $4,000 barrels as compared
with 100000 barrels last year or an
increase of 10 per cent over the crop
OF 1915 is promised. The greater part
of the increase may be credited 70
Nelson County. which will have fully
100000 barrels more than last year.
$4,000 barrels more will be shipped
from Alton than last year and $4,000
more will be shipped from Covesville.
Other shipping stations located in
Albemarle County will not ship more
than last year on account OF the light
crop in Wi2esap Many OF the Pied
mont growers have sold their crop at
Sc to IS T. o. b. Fippns on the whole
through the Piedmont. arc n very
good crop. Rappahannock County has
about IS per cent of last years crop.
while Loudoun County is very light.
The district about Roanoke will not
shin over go per cent Of last year.
The Bent Mountain and Starkey sec
tions are particularly light. Cloverdale