The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-12-24

growth in nearly all sections, and
much of it is being pastured. Many
localities reduced the acreage because
of the sudden drop in price and de-
sire on the part of farmers to return
their land to grass. The acreage in
the east section has been sharply in
creased over that of last year, because
of the poor corn crop this year, while
the northeast section would have sown
more except that corn was down so
badly.
Sections where the corn crop was
poor, show the greatest tendency to
wheat increase. An extensive inquiry
on many farms in 81 counties shows
that 10 counties increased their wheat
seeding over 1919 while 10 counties
show decrease. Condition of wheat
is favorable in all sections of the
state, except the southwest where
there was too much rain at the usual
seeding time and too dry later on,
which prevented some seeding in that
section from Hickory to Laclede coun-
ties. At present, moisture is suffi-
Gent in most sections. Fear of chinch
bugs next year is expressed by farm
ers in Knox, Adair, Clark, and some
other cocnties, and the hessian fly is
already reported in 33 of the ia
counties, no section being exempt.
Thirty per cent of the growing wheat
acreage received commercial fertiliz-
er, and per cent of the seed treated
for smut.
Rye seeding is $4,000 acres against
10000 in 1919, and $4,000 in 1915.
Condition 81 per cent against SO per
cent last fall. Considerable rye has
been sown in the east district for pas
turage.
A special inquiry on the yield of
straw indicates for wheat 92 of ton
per acre, oats 81 of ton, rye one
ton, and barley 90.
The Missouri apple crop has been
shipped out of counties where produced
to the extent of q per cent against
80 per cent last year. Most counties
report not enough farm apples for
home use.
Farm wages during the past Season
showed tendency to advance over
last year and rates per month with
board are $40 against $37 last year,
and without board $55 against ISL
last year, hands being employed 8
months during the year. Harvest
wages per day with board were $3.75
against $3.45 last year, and without
board $3.50 against $4.35 last year,
and % days is the average harvest
period. Rates per day for other than
harvest work were $2.4O with board
against $2.l5 last year, and without
board SO against $2.75 last year, with
11s days employment during the year
Wood comprises GO per cent of the
farm fuel in Missouri, and coal 32
! per cent. The average farm home
consumes Is cords of wood per year
at $4.55. The northern third uses
about one-half wood fuel; the central
and east, four-fifths; the west, south
west and southeast, threefourths; the
south central, 500 per cent.
| Cnrr h,p ;e poy oo~k 1900.
pleted, with only AZ per cent gathered
in the northeast due to being badly
down. Price paid per bushel for
husking without board is eight cents
and with board six cents. Rate per
day, without board $3.50, and with
board SO.
Seventy-eight per cent of the corn
crop is marketable, with more mois-
ture in the late corn than usually ex-
pected at this season. In the north
east and east sections but little over
half is marketable, due to lateness of
the season and insect damage. Prices
offered for corn range from 35 to rs
cents per bushel with quotations not
stabilized and very little corn moving.
Fall blowing is 81 per cent completed
against Sc per cent last year, and
rs per cent two years ago.
Missouri cotton on 10000 acres
totals $4,000 bales against 64,014
bales on $4,000 acres picked in 1919.
Weather conditions during the past
month have been very favorable for
corn husking and outdoor farm work.
Live stock is generally healthy, and
the open weather has been favorable
to grazing on wheat and blue grass.
The farmers of Missouri are cribbing
more of their 1920 corn crop than at