Milford chronicle., 1924-06-13
RAIN! AND MORE RAIN!

RAIN! AND MORE RAIN
Our frog remarks he'd rather be a
toad and live on the vapors OF a eel
lar than to dwell longer in the open
unless someone shuts off the inces-
SAINT drip.
Fields are water-soaked. Roads
muddy.
There's no Disgusting the fact that
the farmers are pessimistic. Dry wea-
ther would go long way to rehabili-
tate their courage.
No little apprehension is felt con-
cerning the outlook. Three weeks be-
hind in their work; plOwing and
planting not more than half accom-
plished in some portions of those
states. That's the story briefly.
The cry is for sunshine; and more
sunshine.
The continued wet weather has
made insects very bad. Caterpillars
reported chewing up the leaves on the
apple trees. So many insects never
known before is the way the farmers
put it, Sussex County, Delaware, re-
ports all vine and garden crops near
ly destroyed by the hOrdes of insects;
great damage being done to sweet pO-
tato plants Wheat fields condition ir-
regular-spotty; many good fields
abutting many poor ones. Some hard
ly worth cutting. Highlands crops
mostly good. Lowlands show bad color
and choked with weeds. Fly doing !
some damage Wheat headed in the |
southern and central counties. Pro-
ductiOn this year will be short of last |
1arooI1y fO hna1ru decrease in |
acreage.
Moderate and desultory planting of
corn continues. But not as much as
half the acreage has been planted.
One of our best correspondents writes
that not in 40 years has corn plant
ing been so late in his county.
Reports as to hay vary Fields most
ly weedy. Out turn is spoken of as un-
certain But farmers seem to agree
that without more rain the hay crop
this year will be a whOpper compar-
ed with that of 1928 season. Some
difficulty reported in saving after cut
ting In Hartford County prospect is
somewhat reduced by bad set of tim
othy and clover. CloVer-the scarlet
kind-in many counties was never
better. Alfalfa, where cut, making
good yields. Pastures show up good
to excellent.
Much OF the rye crop has been cut.
Condition good.
Oats planting seriously hampered
by the cool, wet weather. Less acre
age may result than last year. Where .
up, oats is doing well.
Barley is making good on slight |
ly larger acreage. T.
Tobacco planting checked by the
unseasOnal weather. Plants are late; [
setting out has hardly begun. A larger p
acreage is expected this year. Wild
ire reported in beds in Charles and II
Prince Georges. ID
Transplanting of tomatoes greatly
delayed. Not so many set out yet. ID
Potatoes only partly planted. On te
Eastern Shore prospects fair to good. =
Growing slowly; stands difficult to g
,et; some rotting. Season very back U
ward. Il
Green peas for canning look good; =
,odding in southern counties; bloom M
ng elsewhere. String beans in Anne %
arundel are said to be very poor. W
Strawberries ripening under diff b
ulties On June 2 Maryland was 1145
behind last year, to same eli
ate, in her shipments. Delaware 500 W.
arlOads behind. IN
Cucumbers, watermelOns, canta- to-
,upes, at least three weeks late. Nj
-uch replanting necessitated. Stands ed
OF good. Prospects only fair. liza
Farm labor short and inefficient Pr
ldustry and public works absorbing ou
Dor from the farms at wages the
rmers say they can not pay. On Co
Inc l about 80 men available for bu
rm work to every 100 needed. co;
Cattle are improving in condition ma
ith improved condition of pastures. Gel