The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-07-16
CROP PROSPECTS, I.
IRREGULAR ON !
FIRST OF JULY
Federal Market Bureau Makes
Careful Analysis of Farm Con-
d;tions In Florida

4 NTdlHtNNllle, q July lD.-tIOD pros
poets over the state were irregular on
July | according to the report of the
Federal Bureau of Markets and Crop
Estimates here on conditions during
the month of June. The report, pre-
pared by Sam T. Fleming. statistician
Of the bureau, declared citrus fruits
were imp owing and that indications
on July 1 were for Increased produc-
/ ton Of rice, peanuts, peas and le-
sumes generally with a decrease in
corn, cotton, tobacco and most of The
ether staple CROPS.
The staple crops are recovering
from the critical condition caused BY
| dry weather in May and June, says
the report. Grapefruit especially. |
when compared with the condition OF
lormer years, promises u heavier |
sicld than usual. Oranges are nor up
20 the usual condition but did improve
during June and the pessimistic feel
| ing of growers earlier in the season
as regards production has shifted now
to the question of transportation and
rates. No reliable estimate of produc-
ton tor the citrus crops can be made |
| This early because conditions during |
he next six weeks or two months will |
determine largely the size of the crop.
Prospects for IA good yield. however,
IRE better now than earlier in the
season
Shifting Acreage
There has been some shifting of
atrcagcS in the staple crops but grow
ing conditions Indicate production
will not be in line with such changes
Corn, with an increase of about forty
thousand acres over last year prom
IScs Il lower production because of the
damage TO early paintings from dry
weather. The bulk of the production
Will come from the late paintings.
Cotton, on II grealy decreased acre
2ge, pr misses low yields and decreas-
ed production.
Tobacco Improved
Tobacco. with an increase of five
rcr cent in acreage, and perfect
stand which gave early indications of
unusually heavy yields, was seriously
Affected by the dry weather in May
and June and production was further
curtailed by damage and losses from
rains at harvest time.
The rice acreage is fully twenty
live per cent greater than in 1920 due
lu extensive paintings in one or two
localities
The acreage already planted to
sweet potatoes, peanuts and hay crops
is smaller than last year but planting
has been delayed by dry weather and
ate planting, extending through July
ard pant OF August, may offset these
decreases
The condition Of honeybees over the
state on July | was excellent so far
10 strength OF colonies and healthful-
ness was concerned. the bureau states
ihc average yield of surplus honey
per colony to hat date was thirty-lye
sounds rs compared with an average
for the United States of 23.7 pounds.
Much higher yields would have been
Aadc under more favorable conditions
bu rainy weather during the heaviest
.loW through the Tupelo section of
West Florida and dry weather with
extensive burning of the woods earlier
in the year over the state as Il whole
Int eff what promised to be a season
oi unusually heavy honey production.
Preliminary estimates of acre and
production for 1921, the first numerals
representing acres and the last pro-
duction. follow:
Corn, $500 and 10,414.00O bushels:
cotton, $1,000 and $500 bales; sweet
rCtatoes. $4,000 and 5,257 900 bushels;
tobacco. 4.400 and $780, 900 pounds:
rice. 300 and $4,000 bushels; oats
~ 600 and 775, 900 bushels; hay, all
l29,000 and 10000 tons; Irish pota
toes $4,000 and 1.750,000 bushels.
peanuts, 100000 and 300 900 bushels:
sorghum for syrup, 600 and 71,0OO GAL
Ions; sugar cane for syrup, $4,000
acres but no estimate of production at
this time
The growing condition of crops on
July |, 1920, and July l. 1921. the
FIRST figure being that of the former
and the latter of this year. normal
condition being represented by 100
per cent, follows:
Corn 76 per cent-74 per cent:
sweet potatoes $3.50: tobacco 9O-S1:
rice 1890; hal, all 90-S3; oats ta) Sc.
60; pasture 95-S2: field peas $3.50;
field beans S5-S7: peaches 1916:
pears 35-55; watermelons OBJ 15O-
ITO; cantaloupes OBJ 1880; peanuts
$3.50; sorghum (for syrup SS-S5;
pineapples $780, oranges 9O-S6;
grapefruit 1886; lines $3.50.
(a) Condition at time of harvest.
Cd Per cent OF normal production.