The spectator., 1920-08-20
RICE AND HAY PROMISES lARG- EST CROP IN THE HISTORY
 OF THE STATE.
COMPLAINTS OF CUSTOMERS
Peaches and Pears Are Almost a Fail- ure, the Only Commercial Crops Being in Northwest Arkansas-
 Biackberries Abundant.

Little Rock.-The Arkansas crop re- port for August compiled by the De. partment of Agriculture, shows that with the exception of wheat and Of peaches, pears, and grapes. practic l. ly all crops named are we'll above the ten year average condition for the state. Rice and hay promise the larg- est crops in the history of the state, If nothing untoward happens, and the yield of corn will be second only to the great crop of 1917 when the state had an excess of 10,000,000 bushels to sell The watermelons and canta- loupes, which, like cotton, got off to I~2r start, have had ideal growing and fruiting conditions for the past six weeks and have exceeded the ear Her estimates of production by fully 0 pier cent. Indications point strong ly for really great crop year. Com ments on individual crops follow:
 Corn-Corn promises well in West ern and Northern Arkansas. with the exception of parts of Carroll. hSarp, Madison and Newton counties, where dry weather in the last half of June and first half of July cut the crop, and in Independence county, where there Is considerable complaint of cut worms and army worms. especially from Phillips Desha. Chicot, Ashley Prairie and Woodruff counties. In the counties of Southcentral and South western Arkansas the condition aver ages 90 per cent and farmers are we'll pleased with prospects. The con- dition figure for the state of S6 fore casts a yield of 22.S bushels per acre. and a total production of 59.2S0 900, which is only about 5.000.000 less than the record production of 1917.
 Wheat-The wheat yield was quite varied. but all in all was disappointing. although the quality of the grain was S5. only three points below the ten year average. The yield per acre of 2 l-2 bushels is over 20 below the ten year average and promises pro- Auction for the state of less than l. 900 900 bushels. cd little over 40 per cent of last years crop.
 Oats-The crop for the state has been previously estimated at the equivalent of ovsr 1O.00e, 900 bushels. The amount of 1.5 per cent of last years crop left on farms shows that a very small part is carried over from year to year.
 White Potatoes-There has been a slight improvement in the condition of Irish potatoes, the estimate of yield now being 20 bushels per acre more than that of month ago.
 Sweet Potatoes-There is also a slight prospective increase in the sweet potato forecast. the indicated yield now being 106.6 bushels per acre. which promises a total produc- ton of 4,562,000 bushels.
 Rice-The condition of the rice crop promises a yield of 409 bushels to the acre and a total production of 7,Sl2. 900 bushels. or the largest crop in the history of the state, provided the con dition through the balance of the growing and harvesting season is not less favorable than average.
 Apples-The condition of 60, which ia the consensus of condition reports, indicates total production of 2,S20,- mercial fruit about 2.s20 carloads, of 600 bushels each. Quality Is excellent, and harvesting of fall varieties will be- gin shortly.