Milford chronicle., 1920-08-27
STATE CROP REPORT SHOWS

raised in this State, is the opinion Of
Professor Wesley Webb, secretary Of
the State Board of Agriculture. Prof.
Webb bases his opinion on the crops
thus far harvested, and on the favor
able aspect of crops in course of
growth He is careful to distinguish
between a bumper crop, however,
and what the Delaware farmer is
likely TO get as his share of the boun-
ties of nature. as it is we'll known
that an overplus of produce wrecks
the market and drives the income
from crops below the cost of produc-
tion.
Professor Webb said: From pres
ent indication Delaware will not on
ly have a banner year in crops, but
will likely set up a high water mark
in fact this seems destined to be
the bumper year of all Delaware crop
years"
Dean McCue Of Delaware College,
was of similar opinion, although he
Of the likihood of "gluts" which
would make farming Improbable.
In fact everything that has been
put in the ground this year in Della
ware has seemed TO grow like magic.
A great deal of the increase may be
fairly attributed to the splendid grow
ing weather as a result of the abund-
ant rainfall. OF course there is such
a thing as too much rain, and, if con-
tinued, may cause crops to deterior-
ate Considerable cabbage in Kent
and Sussex has rotted in the field, it
is Stated.
Corn Crop "Best Ever"
The corn crop is the crop which is
the cynosure of all eyes at present,
and the estimates vary from the
best crop in ten years" to the best
crop prospects for. corn that Della
ware has ever had" Prof. Webb says
that corn promises a larger yield
than ever before in this State, as the
weather has been extremely favor
able for the past three weeks. The
crop has grown rapidly, and early
planted corn is now maturing in ex-
cellent condition. The estimated yield
for the United States is 100000 900
bushels as compared with five year
of 2,775,000.000 bushels.
Tomato Crop Enormous
The tomato crop is enormous and /
fear is expressed that the crop may
not be harvested. 1t is said that can
ners have not prepared to operate Z
their factories to full capacities Ow-
ing to the low prices of canned tOma- |
toes, and that the present prices Of /
iered do not pay the farmers for (
growing, picking and delivering the .
crop.
Taking the shipments over the Del
aware railroad and branches as a
safe guide as to the production of
crops in Delaware, it is found that
he apple crop this year is nearly so
per cent larger than last year. This
applied only to early apples, but the
ate apples, such as Jonathan, Stay
nan, Winesap and York Imperial in
iicate that the crop will be very
arge of fall apples. Many new Della
ware apple orchards are coming into
,earing this year.
Peach Crop 40 Per Cent Better
The peach crop shows a 40 per cent
Increase over last year. While this
may not hold to the end
he prospects are that it will be in
,reased. Prices are fair, but would
,e higher if the transportation facili-
les were better for distribution. Both
pples and peaches are of fine quality
nd will command top prices.
Shipments of Kieffer pears, the
variety grown in this State,
ave not yet begun. but the indica-
ions are that the crop will be larger
han for many years pasr, and pOssl-
ly the largest crop ever harvested.
he Kieffer pear is Of excellent lual-
y for canning. buJ not of high quail
y for eating as fresh fruit. other
of pears show good pros
ects of record crops.
The early white potato crop was
ood. and prices we're good. The pros
ects for full crop of the late
lantings is most excellent, and quite
fair acreage was planted despite
le cost of seed.
Estimates as to cantalOupes vary.
he shipments do not indicate as
rye a crop as last year, yet the pro-
lcers are having trouble to secure
BOD prices for the crop. It has been
lid hat they are being offered at one
mt each in some localities, which
ould indicate a big crop.
Wheat Crop Above Average .
The estimated yield of wheat is
venteen bushels per acre against a
n-year average of less than sixteen
lshels. Some claim that this esti-
ate of seventeen bushels per acre is
o low. The yield is far, far above
e average, but will not reach the
cord of some years ago when
ere was a yield of over 20 bushels
the acre. The most Gf the 1920
op has been harvested in good con-
ion, but the prices have been re-
rted as gradually decreasing, and
lse who sold early were the only
es who will receive a conImensur-
: return for their labor The total
-imated crop of the whole of the
ited States is 794000.000 bushels.
compared with a five year average
822,000,000 bushels. It is stated
1t the cost of producing the crop
S nearly trebled, while the price
S increased only about fifty per
IT from the five-year average.
All kinds of truck and garden
IS have just been outdoing them
YES in yield, and there seems little
Ibt that the year 1920 will set
v record for bumper crops in the
tie of Delaware. Not a crop has
n mentioned which has not shown
production above the normal.
ich makes the average for all
ps extremely high.
YER FOODSTUFFS,
STERILIZE GLASSES