The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-04-18
CORN AND TOBACCO r4ARvEsTs
LARGEST IN YEARs-WET,
COLD SPRINGS SPolLs
HAY.

pTOuuCtc, UuEuCAbOAAC AdA Ia tuACc "AO
high cost Of labor, there was marked
Improvement in agriculture in Mary.
land during 1928 This statement was
made in the annual report of the ex
tension service of the University OF
Maryland just issued.
During last year more than 100000
acres were in truck and canning crops.
A total of $4,000 acres was under
cultivation throughout the State.
Early in the season short crops
were expected because of prolonged
droughty conditions, but as the season
advanced conditions steadily inn
proved The outstanding fact of the
crop year was overturn of the wheat
crop, which made 1872 bushels an
acre, the largest average in the last
20 years, excepting one. The corn
yield of 1913 bushels has been exceed
ed only twice since the Government
has been keeping records of Maryland
corn crops.
The yield of tobacco was 1872 pounds
in the last 81 years. The season, how
ever, was bad for the hay crop. A
wet, cold spring followed by hot, dry
weather dimmed the prospect beyond
recovery. The yield of LOS tons was
the lowest since 1911, when the aver
age yield was ~ of ton.
The value an acre of all crops aver
aged about S34.93, compared with
S31.S2 in 1922 and $65 in the peak year
1919.
Outstanding features of the agricul-
tural situation in Maryland last year
are as follows:
The 1928 harvest Of all crops repre-.
sents an advance of Z per cent. over
the appraised value of the harvest in
1922. The value of the 1922 harvest
was $63,140,000.
The value of the 1923 harvest was
$4,420,000 more than that of 1922, re-
fecting improvement in prices for
many farm products, compared with
one year ago, and increased produc-
ton in some crops.
The total value of crops in 1928 is
less than 1920 by about $22,476,000,
but more than 1921 by about S19,139,-
600, and lower than 1919-the bumper
yearly about $65,1S3,000.
The corn crop, estimated to be
worth $20,69S,0OO at the farm gate,
represents about 81 per cent of the
value of the entire harvest of the year,
and is $3,227,OOO more in value than
in 1922.
The wheat harvest was valued at
$225, 600, less than that of 1922. though
production was $4,000 bushels more
than in 1922.
Hay had a total farm value Of ST.
241, 900 less than in 1922, chiefly the
result of decrease in the acreage
and the poor yields because of
drought.
Potatoes harvested in 1923 were
valued at S5,286,OO0, about $1,41O,O0O
more than the crop of 1922. and $780,
600 more than that of 1921. =.
Fruit crops last year were excellent.
Despite the vagaries of weather,
plenty of fruit was harvested. Pro
duction substantially was larger than
in 1922. In those apple and peach
orchards where spraying and thinning
were in vogue yields were reported
good, both in quality and quantity.
Maryland exceeded all States except
Tennessee in the shipment of straw
berries.
A wool clip of 467,O00 pounds for
1923 is the Government estimate This
exceeds $4,000 pounds for 1922 and
100000 pounds in 1921, but is below
the clip of 1920, which was $4,000
pounds. On January sheep on Mary
land farms numbered $4,000, an in
crease of 3 per cent. over 1928.
Farmers were required to pay high
er wages to male farm laborers during
1928 than in the two preceding years.
The average rate month, with board,
was 1872; in 1922 it was $3.50, and in
1914 was ST. The average monthly
rate, without board, in 1928 was $4S;
in 1922, $42; in 1914, $26.
Taxes on Maryland farms an acre
increased 70 per cent. as an average
from 19131914 to 1921-1922. All state,
county and local assessments are in
cludeG in the tax total. The average
tax an acre in 1913-1914 was so cents.
This average rose to SIS cents an acre
in 1921-1922.
New Head For Training School.
Appointment of new superintend-
emf of the MARYLAND Training School