The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-03-15
LAKELAND EVENING TELEGRAM, TUESDAY MARctii5. 1921

there is every indication Of a heavy
setting of fruit.
Condition of bearing trees, both or
anges and grapefruit, was ninety.two
per cent of normal ~ March LIST,
compared with eighty-fve per cent
for oranges and eighty-four for grape
fruit a year ago. The crop of fruit
now on the trees is being removed
rapidly and manv gr"''e4 ~ ni"EoG
for the season. Cul.I,a,,uA nd Spt.Iy
;Ig are under way in most secti.,ns
Condition OF bearing lime trees in
South Florida is reported Us eighty
three per cent of normai compared
with eighty per cent 4 year ago.
Irish Potatoes
Preliminary estimate Of the spring
Irish potato acreage in Florida show
about twenty-five per cent reduction
FROM last years paintings. Tho Hast
ingS section, embracing parts nf st.
Johns and Putnam counties. has prob
ably scventy-ei.sh t. per cent of the
1920 acreage, while PLASTER and snail
or areas in counties ia"hrr south
range from siXty-fvc to seventy per
cent of last year. Later paintings
through north and northwest Florida
are running from cirhty-tive to ninety
per cent OF a year ""O.
Tho St:;.es aCrCa:y is estimated at
1900 acres compared with $4,000 Il
year ago and $4,000 in 1879 The CON
ditiOn of the crop is generally excel
lent, comparing favorably with the
splendid early condition shown in
1913 and is far ahead Of the crop u
year ago, which at this ti:uc Wd5
Just recovering from heavy damage
caused by frostS and flooding rains.
tomatoes and Cabbage
Prospects for tomatoes ar" much
better than for Il year ago and quite
Il little above the average condition
at this time
Movement fr0w South Finr.dI 10
market is gaining daily and toe c"Ddi-
tion of the crop farther zap the state
promises excellent yields.
Condition Of cabbage ig generally
lower than ut this time last year and
the slump in prices is probably being
reelected in the condition figures re-
ported.
Grazing Lands
Meadows and pastures are SoiDc-
what better than their usual rondi-
ton at this time of the year.
The continuation of tho SErinE-like
weather Of January with NJ killing
frost in February has enabled grasses
to make an unusual development and
cattlc and stock generally arc getting
in good condition.
Condition Of meadows Is exported
at ciGhty-flec per cent compared with
cighty-two Il year ago and pastures
at cighty-two compared with seven
tyninC Il year ago.
Corn in Cribs
The stock of corn remaining in the
farmers cribs on March 1st. is 1900
600 bushels compared with 5,10000p
bushels Il year ago and about the
same quantity in 1919. This drop Of
about fifteen per cent in corn ON hand
1T this time is a natural result OF the
decreased acreage and production
grown last year. When the stock on
hand is compared with the amount
grown each year it becomes evident
that the farmer is doing some close
figuring and will make his corn last
2hout as long as usual. Less corn has
been sold out of tie county where
crown than usual and. as Il rule, there
is less live stock on the average farm
to be fed
With local exceptions the Florid1
corn shortage is ii clear indication of
the retrenchment in farming opera
tions that has taken place and does
net mean that the average farmer
will not have about as much corn as
he will need TO take him through the
year. The United States has fully Il
half billion bushels Of corn more on
the farms than it had year ago and
it is worth less than half as much per
hushel. The occasional Florida farm
cF who does run out Of corn this
spring will therefore be able 10 buy
it for less tp@obably) than it cost him