The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-03-15
CROP REPORT FOR FLORIDA
Department of Agriculture,
Bureau of Crop Estimates

II
1 Bureau of Crop Estimates
| (Sam T. Fleming, Statistician)
Farming conditions and crop pros
poets are encouraging in Florida The
general tone of March reports from
all over the state indivate that last
years disastrous operations have not
discouraged the farmer as rule.
There is an evident tendency TO re-
duce acreages and numbers of live
stock, and planting will be diversified
as much as possible, but the farm
work itself is well advanced, the per-
centage of spring planting already
done is way ahead of usual and the
condition of growing crops and fruits
is unusually good.
Flowing and preparation of ground
for crops was generally behind sched-
ule at the close of 1920 but excellent
weather for outdoor farm work since
the first of the present year has en-
abled farmers to make great Roadway
in catching up and the work is about
seventy per cent complete at this
date. This is slightly behind the
usual percentage of blowing done by
March LIST but is quite little ahead
of conditions a year ago.
Spring planting has progressed
more rapidly than usual and forty
four per cent of the work is already
done compared with thirty-seven per
cent year ago and a fve-year aver
age of forty per cent.
Prospects throughout the citrus
belt are above the average. Growth
and bloom got an early start and, with
no unfavorable weather conditions so
far there is every indication of
heavy setting of fruit.
Condition of bearing trees, both or
anges and grapefruit, was 90 per cent
of normal on March LIST compared
with IS per cent for oranges and IS
per cent for grapefruit year ago.
The crop of fruit now on the trees is
being removed rapidly and many
groves are picked for the season. Gull
tivation and spraying are under way
in most sections.
Condition of bearing lime trees in
South Florida is reported as SO per
cent of normal compared with 80 per
cent year ago.
Preliminary estimates of the spring
Irish potato acreage in Florida show
about % per cent reduction from
last years paintings. The Hastings
section, embracing parts of St. Johns
and Putnam counties, has probably
70 per cent of the 1920 acreage, while
Flagler and smaller areas in counties
farther south range from 65 to 20 per
cent of last year. Later paintings
through north and. northwest Florida
are running from IS to 90 per cent of
a year ago.
The states acreage is estimated at
10000 acres compared with $4,000
year ago and $4,000 in 1919. The con-
dition of the crop is generally excel
lent, comparing favorably with the
splendid early condition shown in
1918 and is far ahead of the crop a
year ago. which at this time was just
recovering from heavy damage caused
| by frosts and flooding rains.
Prospects for tomatoes are much
better than for a year ago and quite
little above the average condition at
that time.
Movement from South Florida to
market is gaining daily and the condi-
ton of the crop farther up the state
promises excellent yields.
Condition of cabbage is generally
lower than at this time last year and
the slump in prices is probably being
reflected in the condition figures re-
ported.
Meadows and pastures are some
what better than their usual condition
at this time of the year.
The continuation of the spring-li
weather of January with no killing
frost in February has enabled grasses
to make an unusual development and
cattle and stock generally are getting
in good condition.
| Condition of meadows is reported
at 85 per cent compared with 81 a
year ago. and pastures at 80 compar-
ed with 79 year ago.
The stock of corn remaining in the
farmers cribs on March 1st, is 4,300,-
900 bushels compared with 100000
bushels year ago and about the same
quantity in 1919. This drop of about
Is per cent in corn on hand at this
time is a natural result of the de-
|creased acreage and production grown
last year. When the stock on hand Is
lcompared with the amount grown each
lyear it becomes evident that the farm
Ter is doing some close figuring and