Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-06-09
EASTERN SHORE
CROPS SUFFER
FROM DOUCHT
Slight Rain Thursday Did Much
Good But More Is Needed
Potato Yield Cut.
CROPS ON WESTERN
SHORE ALSO DAMAGED

M CIAS WIAtIAiS tiAS SCCIon VI eAi'
county is suffering from a protracte'
drought, which if not terminated very
soon will result in a shortage Of crops
especially the potato yield. In this con
nection the following clipped from
the Baltimre Sun will be of interest
Contrary to reports previously re-
Northern Neck of Virginia is expected
to be unusually small this year, &C.
cording to the following letter receiv.
ed. The basis of the report seems tt
be that an unusually good season .fol
"home seed" is expected. The acreage
of potatoes for table consumption is
declared the smallest in a number OF
years.
"The letter, from an Eastville (Va.)
merchant, follows:
To the Editor of The Sun,
Baltimore, Md.
Dear Mr.. Editor-In The Sun
under date of Friday, June l, on
page A, there is an article appear
ing from Cape Charles, Va, dated
May 81. "New Potatoes Shipped .
From Accomac," which in the
last paragraph says "With an in
creased acreage for both North
ampton and Accomac counties,
bumper crop is expected"
This is unbelievable, and, in
fact. is erroneous. Any person
desirous of gaining an insight in
to conditions existing in these
two counties at the present time
would simply have to travel the
railroad or any of the public high
ways in order to see that it will
not only be impossible to raise a
bumper crop of potatoes, but that
the outlook at the present time
is the poorest that has existed in
these two counties in my recollec-
ton. AS matter Of fact, the ac-
reage of "home seed" is larger
this year than has been for Is
years, all of which are very poor.
In many instances it is commonly
reported by the growers that they
- would not be able to pay expenses
on this acreage, even at fabu-
lous price, due to, the fact of the
poor stand of all potatoes plant
ed on the Shore. Yours truly,
r l.. AILSWORTH.
With reference to crops on the
Western Shore FREDERICK has the fol-
lowing to say:
"Smut damage to wheat in this
county is more than three times
greater this year than last, according
TO survey made by County Agent
John McGill, Jr., 8. B, Shaw and A.
]. Jehle, of the University of Mary
land extension service. There is NO
method to overcome the smut after j;
has gotten a start. The heads of the
wheat become black and the grain
fails to develop.
"An inspection of orchards in the
northern section Of the county was al
so made and very large crop OF
peaches is predicted. The yield Of ap.
Piles, it is said will be about 60 pei
cent, of normal. Orchardists of the
county have been included in a sys-
tenn of notification from the county
agents office by which they are ad-
vised as to the best time to spray
In the sprayed orchards all caterpil.
lars have been destroyed, although
reports of damage from these worms
have been received from orchards moi
sprayed.
In some orchards it will be neces.
sary to thin peaches on account of the
heavy growth of fruit. County Agent
McGill and the university men made
a tour of the county, inspecting or
chards and visiting wheat fields"
With the strawberry crop a prac.
tical failure, so far as prices are con-
cerned, the outlook for the farmer is
not particularly bright.